SAT Identifying Sentence Errors Practice Test 1

Question – 1

For the following questions, you will have to identify whether or not there are any error/errors in the underlined sections in the given passages. If there are any error/errors, choose the correct option accordingly, otherwise select option (E) which is the ‘no error’ option.

1. Experts in the field (A) of asteroid interception and diversion mostly are (B) planetary scientists, astronomers, engineers and hobbyists who think (C) of various strategies whenever they have (D) time. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:B
Answer Explanation:A- Here, the preposition ‘in’ is used to indicate a belief or opinion about the people who are experts and the usage is appropriate. Hence, this answer is not the correct one.B- Here, the word ‘mostly’ is used as an adverb which is modifying the verb ‘are’. Adverbs must be placed after the verbs they describe and therefore, ‘mostly are’ is inappropriate and B is incorrect. Hence, this is the correct answer.C- Here, the reference to different people is in plural form and the grammar used is appropriate. Hence, this segment being correct, this answer choice is incorrect.D- Here again, people in plural are referred to and the noun-verb match is correct. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.E- Since there is an error in the sentence, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 2

2. Melosh, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona, for example, has been focusing (A) on the use of solar collectors, which could (B) gradually nudge the rock off course. It would take(C) many years for sunlight to redirect (D) an asteroid. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:E
Answer Explanation:A- Here, the ‘scientist’ is being said to focus on the use of ‘solar collectors’ and there is nothing wrong in this segment. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.B- Here, a possibility is being talked about and therefore, ‘could’ is an appropriate word to be used and this answer choice is incorrect.C- Here again, a possibility is talked about and therefore, the usage of the word ‘would’ is apt making this an incorrect choice.D- The action of ‘sunlight’ is being referred to here and the usage is appropriate. Hence, this segment does not have any error.E- Since there are no mistakes in this segment, option E is the answer.

Question – 3

3. There is a possibility that an effective defense strategy might succeed (A) in studying the structure of the incoming body. This study (B) may help mankind in precisely determining the composition of asteroids. No asteroids are (C) the solid objects familiar from museum (D) meteorite displays. No errors (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:C
Answer Explanation:A- This is correct usage since the success of the ‘strategy’ is a possibility. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.B- The study has been referred to in the previous sentence and therefore the usage of ‘this study’ is grammatically correct making this an incorrect choice.C- This is the erroneous segment since it is grammatically incorrect, does not convey the correct meaning and sounds inappropriate as well. Hence, this is the correct answer choice.D- Since the objects are in the museum, they are referred to as ‘from museum’ and the usage is correct making this an incorrect answer choice.E- Since there is a mistake in the sentence, it cannot be the correct answer choice.

Question – 4

4. Some are porous some are (A) collections of rubble loosely held together by gravity. Exploding a nuclear bomb nearby might nudge (B) a dense asteroid off track, but it could break a brittle one (C) into pieces, effectively multiplying the threat by creating (D) smaller but still lethal rocks. No errors (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:A
Answer Explanation:A- The repetition of the word ‘some’ makes the sentence sound inappropriate and without a semi-colon punctuation, the meaning is not conveyed properly. A proper sentence construction would be ‘Some are porous; others are…’. Hence, this answer choice is correct.B- Since it is a possibility, the usage of ‘might’ is appropriate and this answer choice is incorrect.C- Since brittle ones may be broken and the same is specified, this segment is correct making this an incorrect answer choice.D- The cause of ‘threat’ is specifically given and therefore, this segment is correct making this an incorrect answer choice.E- Since there is an error in segment ‘A’, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 5

5. One approach uses (A) the so-called kinetic kill vehicles which are numerous (B) small spacecrafts placed in an asteroid’s path. By hit and hit (C), they slow (D) it down enough for the Earth to pass through the projected collision point before the asteroid does. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:C
Answer Explanation:A- Since the word ‘approach’ is used in singular form, the use of the word ‘uses’ is right and no error can be seen in this segment. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.B- The description of the vehicles is provided and therefore the use of ‘which are’ is apt here making this an incorrect answer choice.C- The use of the word ‘hit’ is incorrect to convey the information that the asteroid will slow as a result of repeated hits from the kinetic vehicles in its path. Hence, this is the erroneous segment and the correct answer choice.D- ‘They’ refers to the small aircrafts. Verb-noun match is seen and therefore this underlined segment is correct and the answer choice is incorrect.E- Since there is a mistake in the segment ‘C’, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 6

6. Still, Yeomans, head (A) of the NEO program, warns, that none of this (B) will work without advance notice. Currently, NASA expects to find only about 90 percent (C) of the NEOs large enough (D) to cause global catastrophes. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:E
Answer Explanation:A- The use of commas is apt and it conveys that ‘Yeomens’ is the Head of the NEO program and there is no error in this segment. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.B- The use of comma after ‘warns’ gives the sentence the appropriate break making this segment correct as well. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.C- The use of ‘only’ modifies the words ‘about 90%’ which is apt here. Hence, this answer choice is incorrect.D- The expression ‘large enough’ describes the NEOs clearly and this segment is also correct making this an incorrect answer choice.E- Since there are no errors in the sentences, E is the right answer choice.

Question – 7

7. The remaining 10 percent is (A) too dark for today’s telescopes, or too difficult to distinguish from the many asteroids that orbiting between Mars to Jupiter (B). The B612 Foundation is designing a mission to alter(C) an asteroid’s orbit. David Morrison of NASA’S Ames Research Centre, doubts (D) this. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:B
Answer Explanation:Option A is incorrect since 10 percent is singular and the verb used is ‘is’, the noun and verb are matched. Since the segment is grammatically correct, option A cannot be chosen as the right answer.Option B is the correct answer since, ‘between’ should be used with ‘and’. Here, it is used with ‘to’ and the usage is grammatically incorrect. ‘Between Mars and Jupiter’ is the correct usage.Option C is incorrect. The word ‘mission’ is used as a noun and the segment indicates that something is altered. Since the usage is correct, this answer choice is incorrect.Option D is incorrect. Here, the verb ‘doubts’ is used for ‘David Morrison’. Therefore, verb-noun match is appropriate.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in one of the underlined segments, option E cannot be chosen as the correct answer.

Question – 8

8. Last fortnight, news of a significant development was tucked away inside in the (A) pages of newspapers. At last, the government tabled (B) a bill in Parliament. This bill (C) is for making primary education a fundamental right (D). No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:A
Answer Explanation:Option A is the correct answer. Here, the adjective ‘inside’ is used to describe the ‘pages of newspapers’ and the use of ‘inside’ and ‘in’ is incorrect.Option B is incorrect. The verb ‘table’ is used in the past tense since the action has been completed. Therefore, the usage is grammatically correct.Option C is incorrect. The bill that is being talked about has been introduced in the previous sentence and hence, the use of ‘this’ is appropriate.Option D is incorrect. Here, ‘primary education’ is singular and therefore, the use of ‘is’ is apt.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in one of the underlined statements, option E cannot be chosen as the correct answer.

Question – 9

9. A fortnight earlier (A), a Delhi based newspaper had carried (B) a report on the Government’s ‘Education for all’ program. It said that literacy centers across the city have (C) closed down, volunteers beaten up and enrolment registers were (D) burnt. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:C
Answer Explanation:Option A is incorrect. Since the newspaper in question was published a fortnight ago, the usage is correct.Option B is incorrect. Since the reference is to a report in a newspaper a fortnight ago, ‘had carried’ is the correct tense usage.Option C is correct. Since the event being discussed here happened a fortnight ago, the usage of ‘have’ is incorrect. The usage of ‘were’ would have been correctOption D is incorrect. Since it refers to an incident in the past, ‘were’ is an apt word here.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in the segment C, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 10

10. The routine denials was (A) issued. However, (B) it still is a pointer to the enormity of the task at hand. Nearly 30 million children in the six to ten age group do not (C) go to school. This is reason (D) enough to make primary education compulsory. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:A
Answer Explanation:Option A is incorrect. The word ‘was’ refers to the ‘denials’, which is used in the plural form. Therefore, ‘were’ is the correct verb that must be used with the noun, ‘denials’.Option B is incorrect. ‘However’ is used here to counter the statement made earlier and the use of comma after ‘however’ is structurally apt.Option C is incorrect. Here, ‘children’ are used in plural and ‘do’ is the correct verb that must be used and therefore, there is verb-noun match and the usage is grammatically correct.Option D is incorrect. The reason referred to here is that ’30 million students do not go to school’. This is singular and therefore, the use of ‘is’ is apt and since the reason had been already referred to, ‘this’ is also correct.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in the segment A, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 11

11. It is now widely known (A) that 14 states and four union territories have this law (B) on their statute books. Believe it or not, (C) the list actually includes Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Rajasthan, where (D) literacy and education levels are miles below the national average. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:E
Answer Explanation:Option A is incorrect. Here, ‘widely’ and ‘known’ are used together as adjectives. ‘Widely known’ refers to something that is well known. Hence, the usage is grammatically correct.Option B is incorrect. Here, the word ‘have’ refers to the 14 states and 4 union territories in plural. Therefore, there is no verb-noun mismatch. ‘This’ refers to a law that has been already stated. Therefore, the usage is grammatically and structurally correct.Option C is incorrect. Since the statement made refers to something that is surprising, the phrase, ‘believe it or not’ is apt here.Option D is incorrect. Here, ‘where’ refers to the states mentioned before it. The usage is grammatically correct.Option E is correct. Since there are no errors in the underlined segments, ‘no error’ is correct answer choice.

Question – 12

12. If India’s record continues to (A) appall, it is because these (B) intricacies have not been adequately understood. The devolution of educational powers to the local bodies has (C) to come first. The trouble has been that the education policy has been designed by grizzled mandarins and are(D) totally out of touch with the ground reality. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:D
Answer Explanation:Option A is incorrect. ‘Record’ is singular and the use of ‘continues’ is apt since there is a noun-verb match.Option B is incorrect. The reason for India’s appalling record is stated here and therefore, the usage of ‘because’ is correct. ‘These’ is used to describe the statement.Option C is incorrect. Here, ‘devolution’ is the noun and the verb, ‘has’ is used in the singular form since the noun is also in the singular form. Since there is noun-verb match, it is grammatically correct.Option D is correct. The noun here is ‘policy’ and it is singular and therefore, the verb used should also be singular. However, the verb used is ‘are’ and it is plural. Since there is a noun-verb mismatch, the segment is grammatically incorrect.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in the segment D, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 13

13. The key is to then (A) decentralize education planning and implementation. What’s also needed is greater community involvement in (B) the whole process. Only then can (C) school timings be adjusted for convenience, school children given a curriculum they can relate to (D) and teachers made accountable. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:A
Answer Explanation:Option A is correct. In this statement, there is no mention of any such action previously; hence, there is no use of the word ‘then’ and this segment is structurally incorrect.Option B is incorrect. The use of ‘in’ is appropriate with ‘involvement’ since it refers to the participation of the whole community and it is grammatically correct.Option C is incorrect. Here, a condition is mentioned and ‘only then’ is grammatically correct and the apt usage for setting a condition.Option D is incorrect. Here, ‘they’ refers to the school children and verb-noun match is correct and therefore the usage is correct.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in segment A, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 14

14. For proof, one has only to look (A) at the successes of (B) the district primary education program, which was (C) launched in 1994. It has met with a fair (D) degree of success in the 122 districts it covers. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:B
Answer Explanation:Option A is incorrect. The evidence being presented as a proof was launched in 1994. However, the proof has to be evaluated in the present. Therefore, ‘to look’ is the best usage as it blends well with the remaining sentence.Option B is correct. Here, ‘successes’ is plural and only if many programs are referred to, the usage is correct. Therefore, ‘success’ is the apt usage here.Option C is incorrect. ‘which’ refers to the program and ‘was’ is used because the program was launched in the year 1994 (past tense). Since both are grammatically correct, this option cannot be chosen.Option D is incorrect. The adjective ‘fair’ is modifying ‘degree of success’ which is singular and the article ‘a’ preceding ‘fair’ is correct.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in segment B, option E cannot be chosen.

Question – 15

15. The remaining 10 percent is too dark for today’s telescopes, or too difficult to distinguish from the many asteroids that orbits (A) harmlessly in the solar system’s main asteroid belt. The people at the B612 Foundation are (B) designing a mission to alter an asteroid’s path. David Morrison of NASA’S Ames Research Centre, doubts that any concerted effort in the field (C) of research will be made until (D) a specific threat is discovered. No error (E)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Answer:A
Answer Explanation:Option A is correct. Here, the verb ‘orbits’ refers to the noun ‘asteroids’ and the noun is plural and the verb used is singular. The correct usage should be ‘asteroids that orbit’.Option B is incorrect. Here ‘are’ refers to ‘people’ and not the ‘foundation’. Therefore, there is verb-noun match and it is grammatically correct.Option C is incorrect. The use of the preposition ‘in’ is apt when it refers to a ‘field’ and therefore, this segment is grammatically correct.Option D is incorrect. Here, ‘until’ is used as a preposition to mean ‘up to a point in time mentioned’ which is ’till a specific threat is discovered’ in this context. The usage is apt and grammatically correct.Option E is incorrect. Since there is an error in segment A, option E cannot be chosen.

SAT Identifying Sentence Errors Practice Test 1

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