Quiz 07 | Higher Education | Oxford University Press Canada

In this quiz, identify the grammatical error in each of the following sentences. Keep in mind that there is one error per sentence.

Question 1:

Lack of sleep and poor nutrition often contributes to poor grades among students.
a) Parallelism error.
b) Subject-verb agreement error.
c) Misplaced modifier.
d) Sentence fragment.

Question 2:

Our society's fascination with celebrities lives has resulted in recent stalking incidents.
a) Subject-verb agreement error.
b) Punctuation error.
c) Pronoun-antecedent agreement error.
d) Apostrophe error.

Question 3:

There has been surprisingly little research on anorexia nervosa; only 15 comparative trials published in the last 20 years.
a) Punctuation error.
b) Sentence fragment.
c) Pronoun reference error.
d) Dangling modifier.

Question 4:

Watching Disney movies, the heroines always seem to be long-legged, ample-breasted beauties.
a) Punctuation error.
b) Comma splice.
c) Dangling modifier.
d) Misplaced modifier.

Question 5:

It is believed that irradiated meat can cause DNA damage, abnormalities, and destroy essential vitamins and minerals.
a) Parallelism error.
b) Subject-verb agreement error.
c) Pronoun inconsistency.
d) Sentence fragment.

Question 6:

By living away from home, it makes a teenager take responsibility for his or her actions.
a) Pronoun reference error.
b) Pronoun-antecedent agreement error.
c) Pronoun case error.
d) Run-on sentence.

Question 7:

In 2005, rap superstar, 50 Cent, was placed on the Forbes Celebrity Top 100 list.
a) Comma splice.
b) Misplaced modifier.
c) Dangling modifier.
d) Punctuation error.

Question 8:

Although the implementation of a sewage plan would fix the city's waste problem.
a) Apostrophe error.
b) Run-on sentence.
c) Sentence fragment.
d) Punctuation error.

Question 9:

A lack of funding for school boards affects the quality of the PE curriculum, but this requires the parents' initiative for change.
a) Apostrophe error.
b) Comma splice.
c) Subject-verb agreement error.
d) Pronoun reference error.

Question 10:

According to a report, U.S. tariffs on the Canadian softwood industry took a heavy toll, thousands of jobs in the forest industry were lost.
a) Misplaced modifier.
b) Punctuation error.
c) Comma splice.
d) Run-on sentence.

Question 11:

The amount of education that parent's have plays an influential role in the child's life.
a) Subject-verb agreement error.
b) Pronoun reference error.
c) Apostrophe error.
d) Parallelism error.

Question 12:

Created in the 1970s, some people think space shuttles are too old and should be scrapped.
a) Misplaced modifier.
b) Dangling modifier.
c) Comma splice.
d) Apostrophe error.

Question 13:

Many students, who have to take out loans, have a heavy debt load on graduation.
a) Punctuation error.
b) Run-on sentence.
c) Pronoun case error.
d) Pronoun-antecedent agreement error.

Question 14:

A strong case can be made in favour or against capital punishment.
a) Subject-verb agreement error.
b) Misplaced modifier.
c) Parallelism error.
d) Punctuation error.

Question 15:

Comparing the two essays on space exploration, Todd's argument is more convincing than Pineau's.
a) Faulty comparison.
b) Dangling modifier.
c) Comma splice.
d) Run-on sentence.

Question 16:

Oil, electricity, and solar power are popular methods for heating homes in Ontario, however the most popular is natural gas.
a) Run-on sentence.
b) Dangling modifier.
c) Pronoun reference error.
d) Punctuation error.

Question 17:

Society's fascination with weight loss can be seen in the popularity of fad diets such as: the Atkins diet and its variants.
a) Apostrophe error.
b) Punctuation error.
c) Faulty comparison.
d) Parallelism error.

Question 18:

The daily stresses of students, such as exams or assignment due dates, teach us to manage time wisely.
a) Subject-verb agreement error.
b) Pronoun case error.
c) Comma splice.
d) Pronoun inconsistency.

Question 19:

Holly Hunter, one of the actresses who I most admire, appeared in the 1993 movie The Piano.
a) Punctuation error.
b) Apostrophe error.
c) Pronoun case error.
d) Dangling modifier.

Question 20:

By following the vegetarian food pyramid, a person is certain to receive the proper nutrients they need for a healthy diet.
a) Pronoun reference error.
b) Pronoun-antecedent agreement error.
c) Misplaced modifier.
d) Comma splice.

Question 21:

According to scientists, the withdrawal symptoms for caffeine are not as severe as other drugs.
a) Faulty comparison.
b) Punctuation error.
c) Pronoun reference error.
d) Subject-verb agreement.

Question 22:

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle, whose scientific name is Caretta caretta, is known for it's powerful jaw and great size.
a) Misplaced modifier.
b) Parallelism error.
c) Apostrophe error.
d) Comma splice.

Question 23:

Soccer, football, and hockey are physically demanding sports, and each have a set of rules to which players must adhere.
a) Punctuation error.
b) Pronoun-antecedent agreement error.
c) Pronoun inconsistency.
d) Parallelism error.

Question 24:

Stress is often found in the workplace today because it can be very competitive.
a) Pronoun reference error.
b) Run-on sentence.
c) Dangling modifier.
d) Faulty comparison.

Question 25:

With reduced exposure to smoke comes fewer illnesses and a stronger health care system.
a) Misplaced modifier.
b) Subject-verb agreement error.
c) Sentence fragment.
d) Punctuation error.

Higher Education

Writing by Choice - Student Quiz - Part 7