In the following error spotting question, one part of the sentence may contain a grammatical error. Identify the incorrect part or choose "No Error": "Variety / is / spice of life / No Error."

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your familiarity with a well known English proverb and your ability to recognise the correct use of articles. The sentence uses the proverb "Variety is the spice of life," but one part has been altered. You must identify which segment contains the error.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Full sentence: "Variety (A) / is (B) / spice of life (C) / No Error (D)."
• Part A: "Variety"
• Part B: "is"
• Part C: "spice of life"
• The intended proverb is "Variety is the spice of life."

Concept / Approach:
In English, when we talk about something in a proverbial or generic sense using a singular countable noun, we normally use the definite article "the." The established proverb is "Variety is the spice of life," meaning that changes and different experiences make life interesting. Therefore, the missing word "the" in front of "spice" is the error, which is located in part C.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the sentence is a proverb you may already know. Step 2: Recall the correct form: "Variety is the spice of life." Step 3: Compare the given sentence with the correct proverb and notice that "the" before "spice" is missing. Step 4: Identify that this missing article belongs to part C, which reads "spice of life." Step 5: Conclude that part C contains the error.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we insert "the," the sentence becomes "Variety is the spice of life," which is both idiomatic and grammatically correct. Parts A and B are already correct: "Variety" is a proper subject, and "is" is the correct singular verb. Only part C needs the article. This confirms that part C is the problematic segment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• A: "Variety" as a subject is correct and matches the known proverb.
• B: "is" correctly agrees with the singular subject "variety."
• D (No Error): Cannot be correct because we have clearly identified a missing article in part C.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes fail to recognise proverbs and focus only on general rules, missing small but important function words like articles. Another pitfall is to overthink and suspect parts that are already correct, such as "Variety" or "is." In proverb based questions, it is very helpful to recall the exact idiomatic form used in everyday English and see whether it matches the given sentence.

Final Answer:
The error is in part C; the sentence should read: Variety is the spice of life.