In this error spotting question, identify the part that contains an error in the sentence about affirmations and goal realisation.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question examines vocabulary usage and word formation in a sentence about affirmations, focus, and perseverance. The sentence explains how affirmations help direct the will towards goal realisation and allow positive thoughts to penetrate deeper levels of the mind. While the overall structure is sound, one part contains a non standard expression for the mental level being described. Recognising correct psychological and everyday terms is important for precise and natural English.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Part 1: Affirmations fire the will to focus and perseverance towards
  • Part 2: goal realisation and enable positive
  • Part 3: thoughts to permeate one’s sub consciousness.
  • Part 4: No error
  • The intended phrase is one’s subconscious, referring to the deeper mind.


Concept / Approach:
The standard English term for the part of the mind below conscious awareness is subconscious, used as a single word, often as a noun or adjective. The split form sub consciousness is not commonly used and sounds incorrect in modern English, especially in exam level writing. Therefore, in the clause thoughts to permeate one’s sub consciousness, the phrase should be one’s subconscious. This means that the error is in part 3. The rest of the sentence, including the phrase goal realisation and enable positive thoughts, is grammatically acceptable and conveys the intended meaning.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read each part of the sentence, focusing on key terms related to psychology and motivation. Step 2: Notice that part 3 uses the phrase one’s sub consciousness. Step 3: Recall that the normal term is subconscious, one word, either as adjective or noun. Step 4: Mentally replace sub consciousness with subconscious to form thoughts to permeate one's subconscious. Step 5: Conclude that part 3 contains the vocabulary error.


Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence with the correction: Affirmations fire the will to focus and perseverance towards goal realisation and enable positive thoughts to permeate one’s subconscious. This version is both grammatically correct and stylistically natural in modern English. Since no other obvious errors appear in the remaining parts, and the only odd expression was sub consciousness, we can confirm that part 3 is where the error lies. Parts 1 and 2 may be stylistically dense but are grammatically acceptable in exam contexts.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part 1, Affirmations fire the will to focus and perseverance towards, though slightly formal, uses a metaphoric verb fire the will and does not have a clear grammatical error.

Part 2, goal realisation and enable positive, correctly links enable with positive thoughts in the following part of the sentence and maintains logical sense.

Part 4, No error, cannot be chosen because the term sub consciousness is non standard and should be replaced with subconscious.


Common Pitfalls:
Students may treat sub consciousness as acceptable because it appears to be a direct translation of a concept into English. However, standard usage favours subconscious and unconscious as the key terms in psychology and everyday discussion. It is helpful to familiarise yourself with common psychological vocabulary that often appears in self help and motivational texts, as these are popular sources for exam sentences.


Final Answer:
The error is in part 3; the correct phrase should be one’s subconscious.

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