In this English grammar error-spotting question on collective nouns and pronoun agreement, identify which part of the sentence is incorrect: "The Management Committee (A) was divided (B) in their opinion. (C) No Error. (D)". Choose the option that marks the erroneous segment or select 'No Error' if the sentence is fully correct.

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of collective nouns and pronoun agreement in English. The sentence describes a "Management Committee" that does not agree internally. You must determine which part of the sentence violates standard rules of agreement between a singular collective noun and its pronoun reference, particularly in formal exam English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "The Management Committee was divided in their opinion."
• Part A: "The Management Committee"
• Part B: "was divided"
• Part C: "in their opinion."
• Part D: stands for "No Error".
• We treat "Management Committee" as a singular collective noun in this exam context.

Concept / Approach:
In British and Indian English, collective nouns such as "team", "committee", "government", and "family" can sometimes be treated as either singular (acting as one unit) or plural (emphasising individual members). However, in formal grammar questions, examiners usually maintain internal consistency within a sentence. If the verb is singular ("was divided"), the pronoun referring back to that collective noun should also be singular ("its" rather than "their"). The phrase "in their opinion" breaks this agreement by using a plural pronoun after a singular verb.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine Part A: "The Management Committee". This is the subject and is treated as a single collective body. Step 2: Examine Part B: "was divided". The singular verb "was" agrees with the idea of the committee as a single entity experiencing internal division. This is acceptable. Step 3: Examine Part C: "in their opinion." The pronoun "their" is plural and refers back to "The Management Committee", which has been treated as singular by the verb "was". This inconsistency is the grammatical problem. Step 4: For consistent agreement, Part C should be rewritten as "in its opinion." Step 5: Thus, the error lies only in Part C.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence correctly: "The Management Committee was divided in its opinion." This now maintains singular agreement throughout. If we wished to emphasise the individual members, we could write "The Management Committee were divided in their opinions," using both plural verb and plural pronoun. In either case, the verb form and the pronoun must match. The original sentence mixes singular verb "was" with plural pronoun "their", confirming that Part C is the erroneous segment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Part A: Properly introduces the collective noun subject.
• Part B: Uses the singular verb "was" consistently with the singular interpretation of "Management Committee".
• Part D (No Error): Cannot be chosen because the mismatch between "was" and "their" is a clear agreement error.
• Error in more than one part: Not appropriate, as only the pronoun in Part C must be corrected.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often mix singular and plural forms with collective nouns, especially when the noun refers to a group of people. In exam contexts, it is safer to maintain consistent singular or plural agreement in a sentence, rather than mixing them. If you begin with a singular verb ("was", "has"), continue with a singular pronoun ("its"). If you use a plural verb ("were", "have"), then use a plural pronoun ("their"). Always check both the verb and pronoun when a collective noun is involved.

Final Answer:
The incorrect segment is Part C: "in their opinion."; it should be "in its opinion.".