All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: 

The extent to which the minister's statement came under criticism (1)/ reflects not merely public dissatisfaction (2)/ but also that the media has (3)/ increasingly begun scrutinising political rhetoric. (4)

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper (25-Sep-2025) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is

(3)

Identify Sentence Error: Minister's Statement

This question requires identifying the specific part of a sentence that contains a grammatical error.

Error Analysis in Part (3)

The sentence employs a parallel structure using the correlative conjunctions 'not merely... but also...'. Let's examine the elements being contrasted:

  • The first element following 'not merely' is 'public dissatisfaction', which is a noun phrase.
  • The structure following 'but also' is 'that the media has increasingly begun scrutinising political rhetoric', which is a noun clause.

A grammatical error occurs because these two elements are not parallel in structure. The phrase 'not merely X but also Y' requires X and Y to be grammatically similar (e.g., both noun phrases, both clauses, etc.). Here, a noun phrase is contrasted with a noun clause, breaking the expected parallelism.

Locating the Error

The problematic construction is found in part (3): "...but also that the media has...". This phrasing incorrectly joins the second part of the parallel structure.

A grammatically correct sentence would maintain parallelism. For example, it could state "...reflects not merely public dissatisfaction but also the media's increasing scrutiny of political rhetoric."

Therefore, the segment containing the error is part (3).

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    The report was more preferable (1)/ to the previous version (2)/ due to its structured layout (3)/ and clarity of language. (4)/
  2. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    To ensure every participant be heard (1)/ the chairperson requested that questions (2)/ be submitted in advance and that (3)/ moderators be assigned to each group. (4)
  3. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    The official, addressing the press yesterday, (1)/ claimed that the matter had been resolved (2)/ though no evidence supporting the statement (3)/ was ever made available. (4)
  4. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    The assumption that all data must be normalized (1)/ before processing it using machine learning algorithms (2)/ has been a common practice (3)/ in this domain for decades. (4)
  5. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    Those most affected by the decision (1)/ appears to be those (2)/ who were never consulted (3)/ during the drafting of the policy. (4)
  6. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    He objected to the new policy (1)/ on the grounds that (2)/ it violated the principle rights (3)/ of the employees. (4)/
  7. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    It is the uncertainty of how the council intends to proceed (1)/ that seem to have created (2)/ the most unrest among those (3)/ waiting for regulatory clearance. (4)
  8. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
    The protest, though peaceful in nature, (1)/ were portrayed by official channels (2)/ as instigated by external forces (3)/ and ideologically driven groups. (4)
  9. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: 

    No sooner the results were announced (1)/ than the shareholders (2)/ started questioning the management's (3)/ strategic decisions. (4)/

  10. Identify the error in the sentence. 

    We'll go through on the documents before signing them.


Important Questions from Error Spotting

  1. Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).

    A honest mistake (a) / is no more than that; (b) / just an honest mistake. (c) / No error (d)
  2. Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).

    A company of five thousand soldiers , (a) / having marched tirelessly for over five days , (b) /  have just moved into their cantonment . (c) / No error (d)
  3. Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).

    Every person who believes in principles (a) / must stand up to fight  (b) /  for their convictions . (c) / No error (d)
  4. Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).

    The Olympic Games reflects(a) /  the highest spirit of (b) /  human endeavour and achievement . (c) / No error (d)
  5. Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).

    The principal of the school (a) /  stressed the need for discipline (b) /  amongst the students. (c) / No error (d)
Need Expert Advice?
Test Series
SSC CGL img
SSC
SSC CGL (Tier I + Tier II) 2026 Mock Test Series - Latest Pattern
1736 Tests 6 Tests Free
1819 Attempts
4.2(846)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App