Read the following sentence and identify the part that contains an error, or select "No error" if the sentence is correct: "I do not understand why why in spite of my best efforts to please him my boss is so angry at me."

Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question checks your awareness of unnecessary repetition and clause structure in English. The sentence contains two occurrences of the word "why" close together, which makes the sentence ungrammatical and awkward. Your task is to identify which segment of the sentence introduces the error.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Full sentence: "I do not understand why why in spite of my best efforts to please him my boss is so angry at me."
• Parts: (a) I do not understand why, (b) why in spite of my best efforts to please him, (c) my boss is so angry at me., (d) No error.
• The intended meaning is that the speaker does not understand the reason for the boss's anger, despite trying to please him.

Concept / Approach:
The clause "I do not understand why" already introduces the question of reason. It is immediately followed by another "why" at the beginning of part (b), which is redundant and breaks the flow. The correct structure should be something like "I do not understand why, in spite of my best efforts to please him, my boss is so angry at me." Only one "why" is needed to introduce the clause; the second "why" in part (b) is the error.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine part (a): "I do not understand why." This is a correct introductory clause expressing confusion about a reason.Step 2: Examine part (b): "why in spite of my best efforts to please him." The second "why" here is unnecessary because the first "why" in part (a) already introduces the reason clause.Step 3: Examine part (c): "my boss is so angry at me." This is a correct clause explaining what is not understood.Step 4: Combine the corrected parts: "I do not understand why, in spite of my best efforts to please him, my boss is so angry at me."Step 5: Since the extra "why" is present in part (b), that is the part containing the error.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the sentence aloud as given: "I do not understand why why in spite of my best efforts..." The repetition of "why" is clearly jarring. Remove the second "why" and read again: "I do not understand why, in spite of my best efforts to please him, my boss is so angry at me." The sentence now sounds natural and grammatically correct. Therefore, part (b) is the erroneous segment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part (a) "I do not understand why" is grammatically correct and a natural way to begin such a sentence. Part (c) "my boss is so angry at me." is also correct; "angry at" or "angry with" are both accepted patterns in modern English. Option (d) "No error" cannot be chosen because we have already identified a clear mistake in part (b).

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may focus on "angry at me" and think it should always be "angry with me", but both usages are common and correct in contemporary English. The real problem is the duplicated "why", which is easy to miss when reading quickly. A good strategy is to read the sentence slowly, paying attention to repeated words and checking whether each one is necessary. Eliminating redundant words is a key skill for spotting errors in exam questions.

Final Answer:
The error is in part "why in spite of my best efforts to please him", because the second "why" is unnecessary.