In this idiom and phrase question, identify the option that correctly explains the expression "give someone the benefit of the doubt" in the passage about trusting close ones.

Introduction / Context:
This question is based on the idiomatic expression "benefit of the doubt". The passage describes how people behave toward those closest to them. It notes that we often assume good intentions from loved ones because we trust them. Your task is to choose the option that correctly explains what it means to give someone the benefit of the doubt in this context, without altering the meaning of the passage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage discusses our tendency to trust close friends or relatives.
• The phrase "benefit of the doubt" appears in this context.
• Four options attempt to explain what this habit really involves.
• Exactly one option matches the standard meaning of the idiom.

Concept / Approach:
The idiom "give someone the benefit of the doubt" means choosing to believe that a person is telling the truth or acting with good intentions, even when the evidence is incomplete or slightly suspicious. It does not mean hiding crimes or ignoring clear evidence. Instead, it is about assuming innocence or honesty when things are uncertain. In the passage, we naturally trust close ones because we know and care for them, so we are inclined to believe them even without full proof.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Restate the meaning of the idiom. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt means believing them despite incomplete information. Step 2: Examine option A. It states that because we love and trust our close ones, we often believe them even when we are not completely sure their words are true. This aligns well with the idiom. Step 3: Examine option B. It speaks of hiding crimes and covering up lies, which goes beyond the idea of trust under uncertainty and implies deliberate wrongdoing. Step 4: Examine option C. It describes humans as inherently doubting, which is the opposite of what the passage emphasises. Step 5: Examine option D. It talks about nepotism and favouring relatives even against strong evidence, which again is stronger than simply trusting someone when unsure. Step 6: Compare all options. Only option A precisely presents the idea of trusting loved ones when the truth is not fully known.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine a typical situation: a friend arrives late and gives an excuse that sounds slightly doubtful. If you give them the benefit of the doubt, you choose to believe their explanation because you trust them. You do not hide evidence or commit unethical acts. Option A reflects this gentle attitude of trust under uncertainty. Options B and D introduce ideas of covering crimes or ignoring clear proof, which is not part of the basic meaning of the idiom. Option C is simply unrelated, as it stresses doubt rather than trust.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because it changes the meaning from trusting under uncertainty to actively hiding crimes and lies. Option C misrepresents human behaviour as mainly sceptical, which contradicts the passage emphasis on natural trust toward close ones. Option D introduces the concept of nepotism and ignoring strong evidence, which is far more extreme and unethical than simply extending trust. None of these capture the subtle and everyday sense of "benefit of the doubt".

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is confusing "benefit of the doubt" with blind loyalty or unethical protection of relatives. The idiom is about assuming good intentions when information is incomplete, not about ignoring clear evidence of wrongdoing. Another pitfall is to choose the most dramatic or complex explanation instead of the simple, accurate one. In idiom questions, the best answer is often the one that sticks closest to the plain everyday meaning you might encounter in conversation or simple stories.

Final Answer:
The option that correctly explains the expression "benefit of the doubt" in this passage is Since we love and trust our close ones, we often tend to believe them, even when we are not sure what they are saying is true.