Editing & Vocabulary Builder

In this article, we will practice the following topics by solving questions as are asked in your Primary 6 English grade and the PSLE.

• Editing - grammatical errors and commonly misspelled words
• Vocabulary Builder
  • Synonyms

Editing For Spelling And Grammar

Tips for scoring

1. Always identify clues that indicate what the grammatical error is.
2. Contextual information also gives hints as to what the misspelt word is supposed to be.

Example 1:

Desmond Doss is someone we must show our respect to. He is credited of saving 75 soldiers during one of the battles of World War II in the Pacific. Desmond antlisted in the Army as a combat medic because he believed in the cause of World War II, but had vowed not to kill.
 

Question 1:

“credited” is followed by “ __________ ” to form the phrase “ __________ ”, meaning that someone is responsible for something good.

Solution:

“credited” is followed by “with” to form the phrase “credited with”, meaning that someone is responsible for something good.
 

Question 2:

“Army” tells us that the misspelt word is “ __________ ”, which means to be __________ or __________ up for service in the military.

Solution:

“Army” tells us that the misspelt word is “enlisted”, which means to be recruited or sign up for service in the military.

Practice Questions

Question 1: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Cheap, easy to prepare, and undeniably delicious, instant noodles has become a favourite food in many countries around the world though its reputation of being unhealthy.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. undeniably
2. around
3. have
4. though

Solution:

4

Explanation:

though is not the correct word to be used in the context. It should be despite.

Question 2:

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Also called instant ramen, the pre-cooked dried noodles packed with flavouring powder and seasoning oil have often been criticised as a meal deevoyed of nutrients.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. called
2. have
3. the
4. deevoyed

Solution:

2

Explanation:

Noodles is considered as a singular and not a plural subject. So, instant noodles has often been criticised as a meal devoid of nutrients.

We are NOT choosing option 4 because the question asked for grammatical error and NOT spelling error.

Question 3:

Which is the correct spelling of the underlined word in the above Question?

1. devoid
2. divoid
3. divide
4. dewoid

Solution:

1

Explanation:

Here, the word deevoyed is misspelled. It is devoid. 

Question 4: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Despite the meal being notoriously known to be high in carbohydrates and fat but very low in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, it has somehow reeteined its global popularity.

Which is the correct spelling of the underlined word?

1. ritined
2. retained
3. retrained
4. reetained

Solution:

2

Question 5:

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

According to the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), 52 countries consumed 97.7 billion servings last year alone. Between its highest consumers are China and Hong Kong.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. According
2. and
3. Between
4. alone

Solution:

3

Explanation:

Among its highest consumers….

Question 6: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Among its highest consumers are China and Hong Kong, which together consumed 40.43 billion servings, followed with Indonesia, with 13.2 billion servings consumed.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. with
2. which
3. followed
4. consumed

Solution:

1

Explanation:

followed with Indonesia - this is the incorrect usage of the preposition ‘with’

followed by Indonesia - this is the correct usage of the preposition ‘by’

Question 7: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

The researchers analysed the health and diet of 11,000 South Koreans between ages 19 to 64.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. analysed
2. and
3. to
4. of

Solution:

3

Explanation:

between ages 19 to 64 - these are paired conjunctions or correlative conjunctions

Here the usage of between ---- to is INCORRECT.

It should be between ---- and. This is the correct usage.
 

Question 8: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

The study showed that South Korean women had a high risk in developing metabolic syndrome due to the large amounts of ramen they consume.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. in
2. that
3. developing
4. to

Solution: 

1

Explanation:

high risk in developing - This is incorrect collocation

high risk of developing - This is CORRECT

Question 9: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Curiously, the result was not found in male participants, which the scientists airtreebyut to biological differences between the genders.

Which is the correct spelling of the underlined word?

1. aitribute
2. attribute
3. atribute
4. atreebute

Solution:

2

Question 10:

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Metabolic syndrome often leads to increased blood sugar and blood pressure levels, causing a higher risk of diebeetees, stroke or heart disease.

Which is the correct spelling of the underlined word?

1. diabetes
2. diebetes
3. dibetes
4. diabetis

Solution: 

1

Question 11:

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

A culprit identified was the substance found in ramen called Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum industry by-product used to preserve cheap processed foods.

Which word in the text in blue is grammatically incorrect?

1. a
2. by
3. used
4. called

Solution:

1

Explanation:

A culprit identified … - This usage of the article ‘A’ is wrong as the culprit identified is very specific and NOT general.

The culprit identified … -This is the correct usage 
 

Question 12: 

Just how unhealthy are instant noodles?

As you read the passage, identify clues for every question.

Seperete studies conducted elsewhere have revealed other potential health hairzhuds.

Which is the correct spelling of the underlined word?

1. Seperate, hazuds
2. Seperate, hazards
3. Separate, hazuds
4. Separate, hazards

Solution:

4

Vocabulary Builders: Guess The synonym

Question 1:

Marianne was upset when she found out that she had not been chosen to represent her school in the debating competition.

Which word has the same meaning as the underlined word?

1. befuddled
2. rectified
3. affable
4. dismayed

Solution:

4

Question 2:

“How did the hamster escape from its cage when I locked it?” Harold asked me with a puzzled expression on his face.

Which word has the same meaning as the underlined word?

1. befuddled
2. rectified
3. affable
4. reminiscent

Solution: 

1


Question 3:

How could you be so rude to your mother? Shouting at her and slamming the door in her face? Your behaviour is truly shocking.

Which word has the same meaning as the underlined word?

1. appalling
2. insolent
3. affable
4. reminiscent

Solution:

2

Question 3:

When I met my primary school classmates last week for a gathering, we spent many pleasant hours recalling fun moments from our time in school.

Which word has the same meaning as the underlined word?

1. appalling
2. dodging
3. rectifying
4. reminiscing

Solution: 

4

Question 4: 

The salesman pestered the poor old lady till she had no choice but to buy the item that he was selling.

Which word has the same meaning as the underlined word?

1. badgered
2. dodged
3. rectified
4. affected

Solution:

1

Conclusion

In this article, we learned the tips and tricks for editing grammatical errors and other commonly misspelt words. We also solved some vocabulary builder questions involving synonyms.

All the questions in this article are written keeping in mind the Primary 6 English guidelines and the PSLE. There is no better way to improve in a language other than extensive reading and practising the new words learnt.

Keep reading! Keep improving!