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Quiz about Common Errors in Usage Part IV
Quiz about Common Errors in Usage Part IV

Common Errors in Usage Part IV Quiz


The errors in this exercise are pretty straightforward and most have a clear right or wrong answer. In a couple of cases, there may be several correct answers, and you must select the best. Good Luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by woofi. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
woofi
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
109,115
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
3871
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. It was quite fashionable for late 19th century ladies to faint. Of course it was helpful to have a fainting couch nearby, which was often a chaise (longue/lounge).

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: (One Word)
Question 2 of 10
2. Some states have "open grazing" laws that basically state that if you hit the farmer's prize cow as it tries to cross the street, you have to pay the farmer for the cow. (The damage to you and your vehicle is your problem.) On the other hand, a prudent farmer may enclose his ranch with a fence made of (barbed/bob/barb) wire.

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: (One Word)
Question 3 of 10
3. (Grammer/Grammar) is concerned with the structure of the language - primarily syntax and inflection. This question is simply about spelling.

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: (One Word)
Question 4 of 10
4. The author of this quiz has a goal of pointing out some of the common errors in the English language. However, English is an evolving, living language that is one of the more flexible languages spoken today. Some rules that have arisen tend to act as a (straightjacket/straitjacket) to the language and have little effect other than to make the writer feel a need to compose more awkward and less graceful sentences than necessary.

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. I offer you my sympathy for the loss of your dog. I am sure you feel (badly,bad) about the loss of "Max".

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: (One Word)
Question 6 of 10
6. Anna Nicole Moneypenny could not decide whether to marry Mr. J.P. Gottrocks or Mr. Benjamin Warbucks. To help her decide, she hired an investigator to determine who was the (richest/richer) and the one (more/most) likely to die first.

Select the correct word from each pair of terms in parentheses.
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Mr. Gottrocks and Mr. Warbucks awaited Miss Moneypenny's response with (baited/bated) breath.

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: (One Word)
Question 8 of 10
8. I (will/shall/am) go to the store to buy some food for dinner tonight.

(Please select the best choice for American usage.)
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. On the occasion of a recent visit to a Dallas eatery, a woman entered and sat with three men at the table adjacent to mine. The outfit she wore would have put her at the top of Mr. Blackwell's list had she been a celebrity. Worse than that, the copious quantity of discount perfume she was wearing was painfully (oderous/odoriferous).

Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: (One Word)
Question 10 of 10
10. The hotel policy will allow only four (people/persons/either people or persons/peoples) to stay in a double room. Please choose the best word from each set of parentheses.

Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. It was quite fashionable for late 19th century ladies to faint. Of course it was helpful to have a fainting couch nearby, which was often a chaise (longue/lounge). Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: longue

"Chaise longue" is a French term literally meaning "long chair", which describes the piece of furniture exactly. Whatever you do, don't pronounce "longue" like "lounge". You are much closer if you try to pronounce it like the English "long".
2. Some states have "open grazing" laws that basically state that if you hit the farmer's prize cow as it tries to cross the street, you have to pay the farmer for the cow. (The damage to you and your vehicle is your problem.) On the other hand, a prudent farmer may enclose his ranch with a fence made of (barbed/bob/barb) wire. Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: barbed

The wire used contains barbs, and is therefore "barbed". This is the correct usage for all audiences, but the others options are colloquial and will be understood by many.
3. (Grammer/Grammar) is concerned with the structure of the language - primarily syntax and inflection. This question is simply about spelling. Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: Grammar

Spelling and usage are often incorrectly considered part of grammar. Grammar, according to "M-W.com" is: " the study of the classes of words, their inflections, and their functions and relations in the sentence." To help with the spelling, remember that Kelsey Grammer spells his last name with an "e" to go along with the "e's" in his first name, otherwise it is just grammar.
4. The author of this quiz has a goal of pointing out some of the common errors in the English language. However, English is an evolving, living language that is one of the more flexible languages spoken today. Some rules that have arisen tend to act as a (straightjacket/straitjacket) to the language and have little effect other than to make the writer feel a need to compose more awkward and less graceful sentences than necessary. Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: both are correct

"Strait-" in this sense refers to confining or narrow, as in the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow waterway. "Strait-laced" belongs to the same family and implies a narrow mind.

The spelling variant of straightjacket is rarely seen in modern usage.
5. I offer you my sympathy for the loss of your dog. I am sure you feel (badly,bad) about the loss of "Max". Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: bad

"Good" and "bad" are adjectives and should be used to describes one's feelings. "Well" and "badly" are adverbs and should only be descriptive of the manner in which one "feels". For example, "I felt the grocer's fresh fruit badly and now much of it is bruised and can't be sold. I really feel bad about that!"
6. Anna Nicole Moneypenny could not decide whether to marry Mr. J.P. Gottrocks or Mr. Benjamin Warbucks. To help her decide, she hired an investigator to determine who was the (richest/richer) and the one (more/most) likely to die first. Select the correct word from each pair of terms in parentheses.

Answer: richer/more

When comparing 2 items, use that comparative "-er". When comparing 3 or more items, use the superlative "-est". She was comparing between only two individuals, so the comparative is correct. ("More" and "most" are comparative and superlative forms of "many", respectively, and do not follow the standard form of "-er" and "-est". "Good", "well", and "bad", among others, also do not follow that form.
7. Mr. Gottrocks and Mr. Warbucks awaited Miss Moneypenny's response with (baited/bated) breath. Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: bated

"Bated" comes from "abate" and is meant to show restraint. "Bait" is an enticement to help catch something. Now this is not to say that Miss Moneypenny did not use her personal assets to the fullest as "bait" with which to catch these gentlemen!
8. I (will/shall/am) go to the store to buy some food for dinner tonight. (Please select the best choice for American usage.)

Answer: will or shall

In traditional British usage, "shall" is used for first person and "will" for second and third persons. These are often reversed for emphasis. However, many Americans use "will" for first person as well and limit the use of "shall" for extra politeness, as in asking for permission. For American usage, either is acceptable in this instance.

It is never appropriate to use the phrase "am go", although one could say "am going" to describe an action which is already underway.
9. On the occasion of a recent visit to a Dallas eatery, a woman entered and sat with three men at the table adjacent to mine. The outfit she wore would have put her at the top of Mr. Blackwell's list had she been a celebrity. Worse than that, the copious quantity of discount perfume she was wearing was painfully (oderous/odoriferous). Select the correct word from the terms in parentheses.

Answer: odoriferous

"Odoriferous" is a form of "odorous", meaning "emitting a strong odor". There is no such word as "oderous". In this true instance, neither word came to mind. "Waiter, check please," were the first words from my mouth.
10. The hotel policy will allow only four (people/persons/either people or persons/peoples) to stay in a double room. Please choose the best word from each set of parentheses.

Answer: either people or persons

"People" is the plural form of "person", however some traditions have held that "persons" is better when applying the word to a small number of persons (or people) who can be counted, reserving the word "people" to large or uncountable numbers, e.g. "There were 3000 people at the Anna Nicole Moneypenny's and J.P. Gottrock's wedding." or "There are about 900 million people in India." In this question, it is acceptable to use either form. "Peoples" is normally used to refer to ethnically or politically united groups.
Source: Author woofi

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