In this English error spotting question, identify the incorrect part in: "You should learn to adopt (A) yourself to (B) changing circumstances. (C) No Error (D)".

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of commonly confused English verbs "adapt" and "adopt". The sentence given is: "You should learn to adopt (A) yourself to (B) changing circumstances. (C) No Error (D)". You must identify which part contains the wrong verb choice in standard idiomatic English.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Full sentence: "You should learn to adopt yourself to changing circumstances."
  • Part (A): "You should learn to adopt"
  • Part (B): "yourself to"
  • Part (C): "changing circumstances."
  • Part (D): "No Error"
  • The intended meaning is that a person should learn to adjust or change themselves according to changing conditions in life.


Concept / Approach:
The verb "adapt" means to adjust or modify oneself or something else to suit new conditions, as in "adapt yourself to change" or "adapt the plan to new requirements." The verb "adopt", on the other hand, means to take up or accept something as your own, such as "adopt a child" or "adopt a new policy". When we want to say that a person changes their behaviour or attitude to fit changing circumstances, the correct verb is "adapt", not "adopt". Therefore, "adopt yourself to" is incorrect, and the correct expression is "adapt yourself to".


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on part (A): "You should learn to adopt".Step 2: Consider the object and prepositional phrase in part (B): "yourself to" followed by "changing circumstances".Step 3: Recall that the idiomatic expression in English is "adapt yourself to something", meaning to adjust to it.Step 4: Replace "adopt" with "adapt" so that the corrected sentence reads: "You should learn to adapt yourself to changing circumstances."Step 5: Verify that parts (B) and (C) are now fully correct with the new verb choice and need no further changes.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can test the sentence with "adopt" in a context where it is correct: "You should learn to adopt new ideas." Here "adopt" means to accept or take up ideas as one's own, which is fine. But in the original sentence, "yourself to changing circumstances" requires a verb of adjustment, and "adapt" is the precise word that fits. With the correction, the sentence becomes a common piece of advice urging flexibility and readiness to change.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option B (part B "yourself to") is correct once the verb "adapt" is used; the reflexive pronoun "yourself" and preposition "to" are appropriate.
  • Option C (part C "changing circumstances.") is also correct; it clearly describes the situations one must get used to.
  • Option D (No Error) is incorrect because part (A) contains a wrong verb for this context.


Common Pitfalls:
Because "adapt" and "adopt" look and sound similar, many learners substitute one for the other. A helpful memory rule is: adapt = adjust; adopt = accept or take as your own. Whenever you see "yourself to ..." or "to new conditions", think of adaptation and adjustment, not adoption. Keeping these distinctions clear will improve both your error spotting skills and your own writing accuracy.


Final Answer:
The incorrect part is A; the verb should be "adapt", not "adopt", so the sentence should read "You should learn to adapt yourself to changing circumstances."

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