Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Error spotting questions require candidates to find grammatical or usage mistakes within a sentence. Such items are very common in English sections of competitive exams. The given sentence talks about the rising cost of living and its effect on people. At first glance, it appears natural and idiomatic. The challenge is to check each part carefully to confirm whether there is any hidden error or whether the sentence is completely correct.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To tackle such questions, one should check subject verb agreement, tense, prepositions, articles, and idiomatic expressions. Here, the phrase cost of living is a standard expression. The verb phrase is so high that many people find follows a correct cause effect structure. The idiom make ends meet correctly describes the struggle to manage expenses. The present tense is appropriate because it describes a general present situation. Since each segment follows correct grammar and usage, the only logical conclusion is that the sentence is free from error and the correct choice is No error.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine part A, Today the cost of living. This correctly introduces the subject and sets a time reference.
Step 2: Examine part B, is so high that many people. The helping verb is matches the singular subject cost, and the phrase so high that is standard English.
Step 3: Examine part C, find it difficult to make ends meet. The verb find agrees with many people, and the idiom make ends meet is used correctly to mean manage expenses.
Step 4: Combine all three parts to read the full sentence and check overall sense and fluency.
Step 5: Conclude that there is no grammatical or idiomatic error in any part.
Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is No error, which corresponds to part D.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check is to consider alternative wordings. Replacing cost of living with cost for living or cost to live would sound unnatural. Similarly, changing make ends meet to make end meet would be incorrect. The given version uses the accepted forms. Matching subject and verb also confirms that cost is singular and takes is, while many people is plural and takes find. Since all these checks raise no issues, the sentence must be considered correct.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Contains a standard phrase Today the cost of living with proper article use and word order.
Option B: The structure is so high that many people is grammatically sound and idiomatic.
Option C: The phrase find it difficult to make ends meet uses a correct idiom and appropriate infinitive construction.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners overanalyse and try to force an error where none exists, simply because they expect every question to contain a mistake. Others may not recognise standard idioms and may doubt make ends meet. It is important to build trust in common expressions through extensive reading. In error spotting sections, one must accept that sometimes the best choice is No error when all parts of the sentence follow proper English usage.
Final Answer:
There is no error in the sentence, so option d is correct.
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