ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Identifying Grammatical Errors Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following sentences contains an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Accepted Answer

Each of the technicians must check their tool kit before starting work.

Answer

The squadron celebrated its victory after the competition.

Answer

The pilot and the co-pilot reviewed their flight plan together.

Answer

All personnel must secure their own equipment.

Question 2

A student wrote the following sentence: 'Peeling the potatoes, the knife slipped and cut my finger.' Which grammatical error does this sentence demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Dangling modifier

Answer

Incorrect verb tense

Answer

Comma splice

Answer

Subject-verb disagreement

Question 3

An officer's report describes a suspect's actions: 'The suspect was observed checking his watch, looking around nervously, and to run when he saw the patrol car.' Which part of this sentence violates the rules of parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

to run when he saw

Answer

checking his watch

Answer

looking around nervously

Answer

was observed

Question 4

Which of the following sentences uses the word 'affect' or 'effect' incorrectly?

Accepted Answer

What was the affect of the commander's speech on morale?

Answer

The change in command will not affect daily operations.

Answer

The primary effect of the new regulation is improved safety.

Answer

Lack of sleep can negatively affect a pilot's performance.

Question 5

A supervisor comparing two technicians says, 'Of the two new recruits, Private Smith is the most diligent.' What is the grammatical error in this statement?

Accepted Answer

Incorrect use of a superlative adjective

Answer

Incorrect verb tense

Answer

Pronoun-antecedent disagreement

Answer

Incorrect preposition

Question 6

Which sentence contains a double negative error, making its literal meaning the opposite of what was likely intended?

Accepted Answer

The mechanic couldn't find nothing wrong with the engine.

Answer

There is hardly any time left to complete the test.

Answer

The commander has never canceled a training exercise.

Answer

Nobody on the team had a reason to complain.