Proof-reading and Editing

Proof-reading and Editing MDCAT MCQs with answers

10 past paper MCQs on Proof-reading and Editing, from the Writing Skills unit of MDCAT English. The year each question appeared is shown where known; tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.

Read the notes first Practise the unit as a quiz

1.Fill in the correct articles: _____ female lion is called _____ lioness. She has no mane. (NUMS MDCAT 2025)

  1. A, the
  2. The, a
  3. The, the
  4. A, a
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Correct answer: (b) The, a

The species is spoken of in general with the definite article, and a lioness is one of many.

2.He circled _____ whole world on his ship and on _____ island he encountered _____ fierce giant. (NUMS MDCAT 2025)

  1. the, an, the
  2. the, a, a
  3. the, an, a
  4. the, an, an
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Correct answer: (c) the, an, a

The world is unique, an island begins with a vowel sound, and a giant is one of many.

3.Identify the ERROR in the sentence: The chef quickly prepared, delicious and it served a meal. (KMU MDCAT 2024)

  1. Punctuation
  2. Style
  3. Vocabulary
  4. Word order
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Correct answer: (a) Punctuation

The comma after prepared cuts the sentence in two and leaves it ungrammatical.

4.Q.186 Choose the sentence with the correct use of article. (UHS MDCAT 2023)

  1. Natasha can play a piano and a violin.
  2. Natasha can play the piano and the violin.
  3. Natasha can play the piano and a violin.
  4. Natasha can play piano and violin.
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Correct answer: (b) Natasha can play the piano and the violin.

A musical instrument takes the definite article: play the piano, play the violin.

5.Spot the error out of the bracketed words. We try to speak (with) (one another) (but) (convey) nothing. (UHS MDCAT 2023)

  1. with
  2. one another
  3. convey
  4. but
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Correct answer: (a) with

One speaks to another, not with another, in this construction.

6.Adil insisted we all go out for _____ cup of coffee. (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. a
  2. an
  3. the
  4. no article
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Correct answer: (a) a

A cup begins with a consonant sound, so it takes a.

7.We are still a long way from ____ home. (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. a
  2. an
  3. the
  4. no article
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Correct answer: (d) no article

Home in this sense takes no article.

8.There was _____ article about pollution in _____ paper. (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. A..an
  2. An…the
  3. A…the
  4. A…a
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Correct answer: (b) An…the

Article begins with a vowel sound, and the paper is a particular one.

9.We have ________ small house in _________ village in _________ Netherlands. (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. The…an…a
  2. An…a…the
  3. A…a….the
  4. A…an…the
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Correct answer: (c) A…a….the

A house and a village are each one of many; the Netherlands takes the definite article.

10.Twice, my father stopped to wipe the sweat from his eyes. (UHS MDCAT 2017)

  1. father stopped
  2. wipe the
  3. from
  4. E) No error
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Correct answer: (d) E) No error

The sentence is correct as it stands.

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