Extract:
Which word is not spelled correctly in the context of the following sentence?
Everyone in the fraternity found the four boy’s pranks sophomoric.
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A
Everyone
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B
fraternity
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C
boy’s
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D
sophomoric
The word "boy's" is not spelled correctly in context; the plural possessive "boys'" is required to show four boys collectively owned the pranks.
A) Everyone
"Everyone" is correctly spelled and properly used as an indefinite pronoun. No error affects this subject.
B) fraternity
"Fraternity" is correctly spelled and appropriately used to describe the organization. No error affects this noun.
C) boy's
"Boy's" is singular possessive (one boy's pranks), but the context specifies "four boys"—requiring plural possessive "boys'" (apostrophe after the s). This represents a possessive number error with significant semantic consequences.
D) sophomoric
"Sophomoric" is correctly spelled and properly used to describe immature behavior. No error affects this adjective.
Conclusion
Possessive apostrophe placement depends on noun number: singular nouns add 's ("boy's"), plural nouns ending in s add only apostrophe ("boys'"). Since four boys collectively performed the pranks, plural possessive "boys'" is required—not singular "boy's."