Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 3
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of fixed prepositional phrases, specifically the expression conflict with the law. The sentence describes how education and skills training might reduce juvenile crime. In the stored version, the phrase was conflict within the law, which does not have the correct meaning in this context.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The central concept is correct preposition use in the phrase conflict with the law, which means involvement in illegal activities or legal trouble. The phrase conflict within the law would suggest disagreement that is still inside legal boundaries, which is not what the sentence intends. Since the idea is to keep juveniles away from legal trouble, the correct preposition is with, not within. The stored sentence had within, so part (3) is the erroneous segment.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read part (1): A focused programme to universalize education and. This is grammatically correct and introduces the idea of a programme aimed at broad education.Step 2: Read part (2): skills training would potentially keep. This is also correct and leads into the object that will be kept from something.Step 3: Read part (3) in the original form: juveniles from coming into conflict within the law. Here, within the law looks suspicious.Step 4: Recall the standard phrase come into conflict with the law, which refers to involvement in crime or legal trouble.Step 5: Recognise that within the law means inside the limits of law, which would contradict the intended meaning of preventing legal conflicts.Step 6: Conclude that part (3) contains the wrong preposition and should use with instead of within.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, rewrite part (3) with the correct preposition: juveniles from coming into conflict with the law. The full sentence becomes: A focused programme to universalize education and skills training would potentially keep juveniles from coming into conflict with the law. This is a familiar expression in discussions about crime and juvenile justice. Another check is to compare with similar phrases like in conflict with someone or at odds with the law, which all use with to indicate opposition or trouble.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 1: Part (1) is structurally correct and does not contain a grammar error.Option 2: Part (2) is grammatically sound and appropriately uses would potentially keep to express a conditional effect.Option 4: Because part (3) originally had the incorrect preposition within, the sentence is not error free, so No Error is not the correct answer.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may not be familiar with the fixed phrase conflict with the law and may accept within the law because they have seen phrases like acting within the law. However, those phrases describe lawful behaviour, not trouble with authorities. This can lead to confusion. It is important to pay attention to whole expressions rather than evaluating each preposition in isolation.
Final Answer:
The incorrect preposition appears in the third part, so the correct option is 3.
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