In this question on English idioms, you must select the option that best expresses the meaning of the expression bed of roses. Read all the choices carefully and choose the one that most accurately explains what this idiom means in everyday usage.

Introduction / Context:
This question evaluates your understanding of common English idioms, which are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be guessed from the literal meaning of their individual words. The idiom bed of roses uses the image of a soft, fragrant bed made of rose petals to suggest something pleasant and easy. Idioms appear frequently in newspapers, conversations, and competitive exams, so knowing their accepted meanings is essential for good comprehension and usage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The idiom given is bed of roses.
• You must choose the option that best explains what this expression means.
• The four interpretations provided cover ideas of ease, hidden difficulties, warm welcome, and wealth related luxury.
• Only one option matches the standard dictionary meaning of the idiom.
• The context is general and does not tie the idiom to a specific sentence.

Concept / Approach:
Idioms often develop metaphorical meanings over time. A bed of roses creates an image of comfort, softness, and pleasure. In modern English, when we say that something is a bed of roses, we are saying that it is very easy, comfortable, or free from hardship. For example, People think celebrity life is a bed of roses, but it is not. Thus the idiom is about ease and comfort, not directly about wealth, hidden dangers, or hospitality. You should therefore look for the option that captures the sense of an easy and comfortable situation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read option (a) What may look comfortable may have hidden thorns. This describes a warning about appearances and hidden problems, similar to expressions like every rose has its thorns, but it is not the standard meaning of bed of roses. Step 2: Read option (b) A situation or activity that is comfortable or easy. This aligns perfectly with the usual metaphorical meaning of bed of roses as an easy and pleasant state. Step 3: Read option (c) A warm welcome to a loved one. This focuses on hospitality and greeting and does not match the idiom as used in real language. Step 4: Read option (d) One needs to be extremely rich to live a luxurious life. This refers to wealth and luxury, not necessarily ease in the sense of absence of difficulties in a particular situation. Step 5: Compare all options. Only option (b) clearly conveys an easy and comfortable situation and matches the widely accepted meaning of the idiom bed of roses.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider example sentences such as Life is not a bed of roses or Marriage is no bed of roses. In both cases, the speaker is denying that life or marriage is always easy and pleasant. The contrast makes sense only if bed of roses means something very comfortable and easy. This supports option (b) and rules out the other interpretations.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option (a) suggests hidden difficulty in something that seems pleasant, which is closer to another idiom about roses and thorns, not bed of roses itself.
Option (c) interprets the phrase as a warm welcome, perhaps influenced by images of people showering someone with rose petals, but that is not the fixed idiomatic meaning.
Option (d) shifts the focus to wealth and luxury in general, which is too specific and does not capture the broader idea of an easy or comfortable situation.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to over interpret the image and imagine alternative stories involving roses, instead of recalling how the idiom is actually used in authentic sentences. Some learners also confuse similar sounding expressions or try to combine the meanings of different idioms. To avoid this, it helps to memorise idioms in example sentences and practise them regularly rather than relying only on literal pictures in your mind.

Final Answer:
The idiom bed of roses means a situation or activity that is very easy and pleasant, so the correct choice is A situation or activity that is comfortable or easy.