Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question examines your understanding of prepositions used with expressions of distance. The sentence reads: "The temple is within a hundred yards from my house." You must identify which underlined part of the sentence is incorrect. Although the sentence may sound almost natural, a small preposition error makes it grammatically wrong in standard English.
Given Data / Assumptions:
The sentence is divided as:
Concept / Approach:
Two structures are relevant here:
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the whole sentence and identify the core meaning: it indicates that the temple is located close to the house, specifically within a distance of one hundred yards.
Step 2: Observe phrase (B): "within a hundred yards" – this is correct as a measure of maximum distance.
Step 3: Check phrase (C): "from my house". Combined with "within a hundred yards", we would normally say "within a hundred yards of my house". The preposition "from" is wrong in this structure.
Step 4: Parts (A) and (B) are fine, so the error must be in part (C).
Verification / Alternative check:
Compare the two correct alternatives:
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to overlook small preposition errors in otherwise smooth sentences. Candidates sometimes think "from" is acceptable because "from my house" is common in other contexts. Remember that prepositions are highly sensitive to the words immediately before them; "within" almost always takes "of" when followed by a distance + reference point. Training yourself to notice such standard combinations will significantly improve your accuracy in error spotting questions.
Final Answer:
The error is in part C; the sentence should read "The temple is within a hundred yards of my house."
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