In this English error spotting question, read the sentence "Outside, the rain beats down (A) / in floods and the sea gives forth (B) / a sound like an alarm bells. (C) / No error (D)" and identify which part contains the grammatical error.

Introduction / Context:
This question is another example of an error spotting item where a sentence is divided into labelled parts. The sentence given is "Outside, the rain beats down (A) / in floods and the sea gives forth (B) / a sound like an alarm bells. (C) / No error (D)". You must decide which segment contains a grammatical mistake, typically involving articles, number agreement, or word form.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Part (A): "Outside, the rain beats down"
• Part (B): "in floods and the sea gives forth"
• Part (C): "a sound like an alarm bells."
• The intended overall meaning is that the rain is heavy and the sea is making a loud sound similar to an alarm bell.
• Option (D) suggests there might be no error.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept here is number agreement between the article and the noun. The phrase "an alarm bells" is incorrect because "an" is a singular article used before a singular noun starting with a vowel sound, while "bells" is plural. The sentence should use either "an alarm bell" (singular) or "alarm bells" (plural without "an"). Since the structure is "a sound like an alarm bell", the intended comparison is likely with a single bell, so the error lies in the plural noun following the singular article.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the whole sentence to understand the imagery: heavy rain and a loud sea.Step 2: Focus on the phrase in part (C): "a sound like an alarm bells".Step 3: Notice that "an" is used before "alarm", and the noun is "bells" in the plural form.Step 4: Recall the rule that a singular article "a" or "an" cannot be used with a plural noun.Step 5: Conclude that either the article or the noun needs to change; the correct expression is "a sound like an alarm bell".

Verification / Alternative check:
Correct the expression and read the sentence again: "Outside, the rain beats down in floods and the sea gives forth a sound like an alarm bell." This corrected version is grammatically sound and clearly expresses the intended comparison. Parts (A) and (B) fit smoothly with this correction and do not show any obvious errors, confirming that the mistake lies only in part (C).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part (A) "Outside, the rain beats down" is a perfectly acceptable way to describe heavy rain. Part (B) "in floods and the sea gives forth" may be slightly poetic, but it is not grammatically incorrect. Option (D), "No error", is invalid because of the clear mismatch between "an" and "bells" in part (C), which violates basic rules of article–noun agreement.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be distracted by the slightly unusual phrase "gives forth" and think it is wrong, but this expression is acceptable in literary English. The real issue is subtler: the number disagreement in "an alarm bells". Always check carefully for article usage before singular and plural nouns, as this is a favourite point of exam setters.

Final Answer:
The correct choice is Part (C): "a sound like an alarm bells.", because the phrase should be "a sound like an alarm bell" to maintain correct agreement between the singular article and the singular noun.