Error spotting in article usage: Though George is a honourable man his activities arouse suspicion. Choose which part of the sentence is grammatically incorrect or state that there is no error.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests the correct use of the indefinite article a or an before a noun that begins with a vowel sound. The sentence describes George as an honourable man, but the article selected does not match the pronunciation of the following word. Article usage is a key grammar area for all competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence: Though George is a honourable man his activities arouse suspicion.
- Part (a): Though George is
- Part (b): a honourable man
- Part (c): his activities arouse suspicion
- Part (d): No error
We assume the pronunciation of honourable is the usual English pronunciation starting with a vowel sound.

Concept / Approach:
The rule is that a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, and an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. The word honourable starts with the letter h, but the h is silent in standard pronunciation, so the first sound is the vowel sound similar to o. Therefore, we must use an honourable man, not a honourable man. The rest of the sentence, including the contrast introduced by though, is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine part (a) Though George is. This correctly introduces a concessive clause and is structurally sound. Step 2: Examine part (b) a honourable man. Here, the indefinite article a is placed before the adjective honourable. Step 3: Recall that honourable begins with a silent h, so the word effectively begins with a vowel sound. Step 4: Therefore, the article must be an, giving an honourable man as the correct phrase. Step 5: Examine part (c) his activities arouse suspicion. This clause correctly uses the plural noun activities and the present verb arouse to indicate ongoing suspicion. Step 6: Since only the article in part (b) is wrong, the error lies in part (b) only.

Verification / Alternative check:
A corrected version of the sentence is: Though George is an honourable man, his activities arouse suspicion. This form is grammatical, uses the correct article, and clearly expresses that there is a contrast between his reputation and his suspicious actions. Checking other similar examples, such as an honest man or an hour, confirms the same principle of using an before words where the initial consonant letter is silent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Error in part (a) only: The phrase Though George is is correct, so this is not the error.

- Error in part (c) only: The clause his activities arouse suspicion correctly conveys meaning and follows proper subject verb agreement, so there is no error here.
- No error in the sentence: This option would overlook the incorrect article before honourable, so it is not acceptable.
- Error in more than one part: Only part (b) needs correction; the other parts are correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often focus on spelling instead of pronunciation when choosing a or an. They may think that because honourable begins with h, a is suitable. The key is to listen to the initial sound. Whenever the first sound is a vowel, an should be used, even if the word begins with a consonant letter that is silent. Practising with words like hour, honest, and honour can help fix this rule in memory.

Final Answer:
Correct option: Error in part (b) only.