In the following sentence, one numbered part may contain a grammatical error, or the sentence may be fully correct. Choose the number of the part that has an error, or choose option (4) for No Error. Sentence: The viability of the multinational corporate system (1) / depends upon the degree in which (2) / people will tolerate the unevenness it creates. (3)

Introduction / Context:
This error spotting item tests the correct use of prepositions in fixed phrases, in particular degree to which rather than degree in which. The sentence discusses how long people will tolerate inequalities created by multinational corporate systems, and a small preposition error affects the natural flow of the phrase.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is split into three numbered parts, with option (4) representing No Error.
• Part (1) presents the subject: The viability of the multinational corporate system.
• Part (2) contains the phrase depends upon the degree in which.
• Part (3) finishes the thought with people will tolerate the unevenness it creates.

Concept / Approach:
The main concept is idiomatic preposition choice in English. When we talk about the extent or level to which something happens, we use degree to which, not degree in which. The preposition in is possible in some other relative clauses, but in this collocation it is incorrect. Therefore, the part that reads depends upon the degree in which needs to be corrected to depends upon the degree to which, showing that part (2) is the erroneous segment.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read part (1): The viability of the multinational corporate system. This is a correctly formed noun phrase describing the sustainability or stability of such a system.Step 2: Read part (2): depends upon the degree in which. Here the pattern depends upon the degree is acceptable, but the following preposition in is wrong in this relative clause.Step 3: Recall that standard usage is the degree to which something happens, indicating the extent.Step 4: Read part (3): people will tolerate the unevenness it creates. This is grammatically fine and expresses the tolerance of inequality.Step 5: Conclude that only part (2) contains an error, namely the preposition in.Step 6: Mentally revise the sentence as The viability of the multinational corporate system depends upon the degree to which people will tolerate the unevenness it creates.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can check similar patterns with degree in standard texts or dictionaries: degree to which inflation falls, degree to which people cooperate, and so on. You will not find degree in which used in the same sense of extent. Another check is to test whether a substitution such as the extent to which works better than the extent in which. This further supports that to, not in, is the correct preposition in this context. No other grammatical adjustments are needed, so the error must be in part (2).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 1: Part (1) is grammatically correct and clearly states the topic.Option 3: Part (3) uses a correct future structure will tolerate and a clear object the unevenness it creates.Option 4: Since there is a definite preposition error in part (2), it is not accurate to classify the sentence as having no error.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners are tempted to accept any preposition in relative clauses because English preposition use is quite flexible. However, some phrases such as degree to which and way in which have strong preferences. Confusing these patterns may lead to wrong answers in exams. Another pitfall is focusing only on verbs like depends or will tolerate and ignoring the smaller linking words. Careful reading of the complete phrase is necessary to catch these subtle but important errors.

Final Answer:
The preposition error is in the second part, so the correct option is 2.