In the following sentence, one part may contain a grammatical error. Identify the part with the error in tense consistency in "Every man in this world wishes to live long but nobody wanted to grow old."

Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question highlights a common problem in English sentences: inconsistent use of tense within a general statement. The sentence "Every man in this world wishes to live long but nobody wanted to grow old" mixes present and past forms in a way that sounds unnatural. Your task is to identify which part contains the tense error and understand why it is incorrect in a general truth context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Full sentence divided into parts:
Part A: "Every man in this world"
Part B: "wishes to live long"
Part C: "but nobody wanted to grow old."
Part D: "No error"
The structure presents a general statement about human nature, not a specific event in the past.
General truths are usually expressed in present tense in standard English.

Concept / Approach:
When we describe universal truths or general human tendencies, we normally use present simple tense. The first part "Every man in this world wishes to live long" is correctly in present simple. However, the second part "but nobody wanted to grow old" suddenly shifts to past simple, which suggests a completed past situation. This tense shift is unnecessary and ungrammatical in a sentence that aims to state a permanent truth about human desire. The verb in the second clause should also be in present simple: "wants to grow old" or "wants to grow old" preceded by "but nobody" for consistency.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Analyse Part A: "Every man in this world". This introduces a general subject, meaning all humans. Step 2: Analyse Part B: "wishes to live long". The verb "wishes" is in present simple, correctly expressing a universal desire. Step 3: Analyse Part C: "but nobody wanted to grow old." Here the verb "wanted" is in past simple, which does not match the general present tone of the earlier part. Step 4: To maintain consistency, Part C should read "but nobody wants to grow old", keeping the present simple. Step 5: Parts A and B are fine, and the problem lies in Part C, where the tense is incorrectly shifted.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence correctly: "Every man in this world wishes to live long but nobody wants to grow old." This version uses present simple throughout, capturing both universal desire and universal dislike. It sounds natural and is the form you would see in textbooks and essays. If the sentence were truly about a particular past group of men, we might say "Every man in that group wished to live long but nobody wanted to grow old." However, the phrase "in this world" clearly points to a general truth, confirming that the mixed tense in the original is wrong.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part A is correct because "Every man in this world" is a proper subject phrase introducing a universal statement.
Part B is correct because "wishes to live long" uses present simple, matching the idea of general human desire.
Part D, "No error", is wrong as an answer choice because there is an identifiable tense error in Part C.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners overlook tense consistency and focus only on individual phrases. Some may even think that using past tense "wanted" adds variety, without realising that it breaks the logic of a general statement. In error spotting questions, always check that the tenses used in different clauses fit the overall time frame and meaning. General truths, habitual actions, and permanent facts usually remain in present simple unless the context clearly demands a different tense.

Final Answer:
Part C