In this English vocabulary and idiom question, choose the most appropriate colour idiom to complete the sentence: "They are so ______, they could not put up a tent properly, while camping." Select the option that best expresses inexperience or lack of skill.

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on English colour idioms, particularly those that describe experience level. The sentence describes a group of people who could not even put up a tent properly while camping, clearly implying that they are inexperienced in outdoor activities. You must select the colour word that idiomatically conveys inexperience or newness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "They are so ______, they could not put up a tent properly, while camping."
• Options:
  • red
  • white
  • blue
  • green
  • yellow
• The context is incompetence or lack of experience in camping skills.

Concept / Approach:
In English idioms, "green" is often used to mean new, inexperienced, or naive, especially in a job or skill: "a green recruit", "He is still very green at driving." Other colour idioms have different meanings: "in the red" (in debt), "feeling blue" (sad), "yellow" (cowardly), and "white" (associated with purity or surrender). Since the key idea here is inexperience in camping, "green" is the natural and idiomatic choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the implied meaning: they cannot even put up a tent, so they are beginners or inexperienced at camping. Step 2: Recall that "green" as an adjective can mean inexperienced or new to something. Step 3: Insert "green" into the sentence: "They are so green, they could not put up a tent properly, while camping." This reads naturally and clearly expresses lack of experience. Step 4: Check other colour options: - "red" has idioms like "red with anger" or "in the red", but nothing related to inexperience here. - "white" appears in "white lie" or "raise a white flag", not in the sense of inexperience. - "blue" is associated with sadness or rudeness ("blue jokes"), not lack of skill. - "yellow" is associated with cowardice, not incompetence. Step 5: Thus, "green" best fits both the context and the idiomatic usage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider other typical uses: "He is still very green behind the ears" and "The new employees are green and need training." In each case, "green" clearly means inexperienced. Applying that sense to camping skills makes the meaning obvious. None of the other colours listed would naturally convey this idea, which confirms "green" as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• red: Associated with anger, embarrassment ("turn red"), or debt ("in the red").
• white: Often linked to purity or surrender ("white flag"); does not suggest inexperience.
• blue: Linked to sadness ("feel blue") or sometimes obscene humour ("blue jokes"), not lack of skill.
• yellow: Associated with cowardice ("yellow-bellied"), meaning easily scared, not inexperienced.

Common Pitfalls:
Colour idioms are heavily culture specific and cannot be translated directly from one language to another. Learners sometimes guess from literal associations or from their own language's idioms, which leads to confusion. The safest approach is to memorise common English expressions such as "green with envy", "green recruits", "once in a blue moon", and "to see red" so that you can recognise their meanings in exam questions.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is "green", giving the sentence: "They are so green, they could not put up a tent properly, while camping.".