Error Identification-Grammar Diagnostics

(21) The cake tasted badly because too much salt was added.

• (a) tasted badly
• (b) too much salt
• (c) was added
• (d) No error.

Answer

Correct Answer: (a) tasted badly
The correct phrasing is “tasted bad” instead of “tasted badly.” Therefore, it should be “The cake tasted bad because too much salt was added.”

(22) The company’s goal is to insure customer satisfaction.

• (a) company’s goal
• (b) to insure
• (c) customer satisfaction.
• (d) No error.

Answer

Correct Answer: (b) to insure
The correct word in this context is “ensure” instead of “insure.” Therefore, it should be “The company’s goal is to ensure customer satisfaction.”

(23) The children enjoyed the movie, didn’t they?

• (a) children
• (b) enjoyed the movie,
• (c) didn’t they?
• (d) No error.

Answer

Correct Answer: (c) didn’t they?
The sentence is a tag question, and the tag should be “didn’t they?” instead of “did they?” as it reflects the negative statement in the main part of the sentence.

(24) This is one of the most unique paintings I’ve ever seen.

• (a) most unique paintings
• (b) I’ve ever seen.
• (c) This is one of the
• (d) No error.

Answer

Correct Answer: (a) most unique paintings
The word “unique” means one of a kind, and there can’t be degrees of uniqueness. Therefore, it should be “This is one of the unique paintings I’ve ever seen.”

(25) She refused to accept neither of the gifts.

• (a) to accept neither
• (b) of the gifts.
• (c) She refused
• (d) No error.

Answer

Correct Answer: (a) to accept neither
The correct phrase is “to accept either” or “to accept neither of,” not “to accept neither.” Therefore, it should be “She refused to accept either of the gifts.”