Question

Replace the following underlined phrases with appropriate collective noun:
The clerk was found sleeping behind a big heap of paper.

• A. mound of papers
• B. series of papers
• C. hillock of papers
• D. bunch of papers

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

mound of papers

Option A: The word, 'mound' means 'a large pile or quantity of something'. It is used as a collective noun to describe a large pile of certain nouns viz. 'papers', 'earth' and 'dirt'. Hence, 'a big heap of paper' is referred to as 'mound of paper. Option A is correct.

The word, 'series' is a collective noun which is used to refer to a number of 'events', 'objects' or 'elements'. The word, 'heap' is a collective noun used to refer to a large amount of 'sand, 'stones' or 'ruins'. These two words are not used to refer to a big heap of paper. Hence, options B and D are incorrect.

The word, 'hillock' is not used as a collective noun. Hence, option C is incorrect.