Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: a trial of misery
Explanation:
Introduction:
This error spotting question tests your understanding of correct word choice and common English expressions. The sentence describes the after effects of a severe cyclonic storm, and one part contains an incorrect word that changes the meaning. Your task is to find that incorrect part or choose "No error" if you believe the sentence is correct in all segments.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The sentence is divided as: "The severe cyclonic storm", "has left behind", "a trial of misery", and "No error".
- The complete sentence reads: "The severe cyclonic storm has left behind a trial of misery."
- We assume standard idiomatic English usage as used in newspapers and exam passages.
Concept / Approach:
The phrase that native speakers commonly use in such contexts is "a trail of misery", meaning a series or path of suffering left behind after a disaster. The word "trial" has a different meaning, usually referring to a legal process in court or a test of something. Therefore, this is a vocabulary and collocation error rather than a grammar mistake. The approach is to check whether each phrase is natural and meaningful in context, not just grammatically correct.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the full sentence: "The severe cyclonic storm has left behind a trial of misery."Step 2: Check the subject phrase "The severe cyclonic storm". This is correct and meaningful.Step 3: Check the verb phrase "has left behind". This is a correct present perfect structure describing a result of a past action.Step 4: Examine the phrase "a trial of misery". The word "trial" usually refers to legal proceedings or a test, which does not fit this context naturally.Step 5: Recognise that the intended phrase is "a trail of misery", where "trail" means a path or line of bad effects. Therefore, the error is in part C.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, replace "trial" with "trail" and read the sentence again: "The severe cyclonic storm has left behind a trail of misery." This sounds natural and matches expressions commonly found in news reports after disasters. You can also compare with similar phrases like "a trail of destruction" or "a trail of tears", which are widely used. This confirms that "trial" is the wrong word here.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "The severe cyclonic storm", correctly identifies the natural disaster and uses proper adjectives. Option B, "has left behind", uses the right tense and structure for a recent event with continuing results. Option D, "No error", is incorrect because we have clearly identified a wrong word in part C. Therefore, option C, "a trial of misery", is the incorrect part, as the word should be "trail" instead of "trial".
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse "trial" and "trail" because they sound similar, but their meanings are quite different. In exam conditions, students may focus only on grammar and overlook incorrect vocabulary. Another common pitfall is to mark "No error" simply because the sentence appears grammatically acceptable at first sight. Always examine whether the words chosen fit the context and standard expressions. Paying attention to common collocations like "trail of destruction" will help you avoid such mistakes.
Final Answer:
The incorrect part is a trial of misery, where the correct phrase should be "a trail of misery".
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