SVA Grammar Quiz

This technology _______ (allow) an SMS message sent by a bank to show up on a customer's phone as being from the bank, rather than an unfamiliar phone number. 

Answer explanation

"Technology" is a singular subject, so the verb that agrees with it should be singular, "allows".

Scammers ______ (has) been using number masking to impersonate banks by replacing any phone number with the bank's SMS sender ID. 

Answer explanation

"Scammers" is a plural noun, so the verb that agrees with it should be plural as well. "Have" is a plural verb.

“These people also _______ (fall) prey to human emotion and greed. The scammer ______ (know) how to make these victims think they’re making a smart decision by investing with them,” he said. 

Answer explanation

"These people" refers to a plural subject so 'fall' should be the plural verb. The "scammer" is a singular subject and so, 'knows' is the singular verb.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) _____ (has) urged more businesses to sign up with a government pilot programme that was launched in August 2021 to allow organisations to register SMS sender IDs they _______ (wish) to protect.

Answer explanation

Since "IMDA" is a singular subject, the verb that agrees with it should be singular as well. "They" is a plural subject, so the verb 'wish' should be plural as well.

What is displayed in lieu of the phone number _______ (is) the bank's SMS sender ID.

Answer explanation

"What is displayed in lieu of the phone number" is one thing and is thus a singular subject and "is" is a singular verb.

"If we takes scams out from the calculations, the crime rate saw a decrease in 2020," said MHA. 

• There is no error in the sentence.

• 'takes' should be changed to 'take'; plural pronoun 'we'

• 'takes' should be changed to 'take'; singular pronoun 'we'

For the seventh consecutive year, Singapore were ranked first in the Gallup 2020 Global Law and Order report, ahead of countries such as Iceland, Austria, Norway and Switzerland. 

• 'were' should be changed to 'was' (singular noun; Singapore).

• No change is necessary.

• 'were' should be changed to 'are' (plural noun).

• 'were should be changed to 'is' (plural noun; Singapore).

Number masking, which are used by most organisations, including banks, have been blamed for the recent OCBC SMS scams.

• 'are' should be changed to 'is' (singular noun; number masking).

• 'have' should be changed to 'has' (singular noun; number masking).

• There is no error in the sentence.

• 'have' should remain the same; plural nouns; banks.

SCDF attributed this increase to suspected Covid-19 cases, which was later assessed to be non-emergencies and the persons did not need to be taken to the hospital.

• 'was' should be changed to 'were'; plural noun (cases).

• 'was' should remain the same; singular noun (SCDF).

• There is no error in this sentence.

The estimates of the health outcomes was derived from constructing an alternative scenario where the population was unvaccinated.

• 'was' should remain the same; singular noun (population).

• 'was' should be changed to 'were'; plural noun (estimates).

• There is no error in this sentence.