In this idiom question, choose the alternative that best expresses the meaning of the phrase: Hobson's choice.

Introduction / Context:
This idiom question focuses on the phrase “Hobson's choice”. Many competitive exams include this expression because its surface meaning is not obvious from the individual words. Understanding such idioms helps you interpret editorial pieces, essays, and reading passages more accurately.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: “Hobson's choice”.
• Options: “To choose first in row”, “To make a careful choice”, “No real choice at all”, “To seek all favourable alternatives to choose from”.
• You must pick the option that best captures the established idiomatic meaning.

Concept / Approach:
“Hobson's choice” is a historical idiom meaning a situation where there is effectively no real choice: you must either accept what is offered or get nothing. It does not mean the best choice or a careful choice; instead, it means the absence of true alternatives. When you encounter this phrase, think “take it or leave it”. The correct answer should clearly express this idea.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning: “Hobson's choice” means a so-called choice in which there is actually only one option. Step 2: Examine option C “No real choice at all”. This directly states that there is no genuine choice, which matches the idiom perfectly. Step 3: Check option A “To choose first in row”. This suggests priority or getting the first pick, which is unrelated to the idea of having no choice. Step 4: Check option B “To make a careful choice”. This implies that you have multiple options and are selecting among them thoughtfully, the opposite of having to accept whatever is given. Step 5: Check option D “To seek all favourable alternatives to choose from”. This again suggests many options and deliberate selection, which contradicts the original sense. Step 6: Therefore, option C is the correct interpretation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a sentence: “The company offered him Hobson's choice: accept the transfer or resign.” If we paraphrase, we would say: “The company gave him no real choice at all: he had to accept the transfer or leave the job.” The idiom clearly signals that the so-called “choice” is actually forced. None of the other options—choosing first, making a careful choice, or seeking many alternatives—fit this scenario.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To choose first in row: focuses on ordering and priority, not on the nature of the choice itself. To make a careful choice: suggests plenty of options and time to evaluate them, which is the opposite of “take it or leave it”. To seek all favourable alternatives to choose from: again assumes multiple favourable options, which does not match an imposed single option.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students assume that because “choice” appears in the idiom, it must involve selecting among many alternatives. Others guess based on the “important” sound of the name “Hobson”. In idioms, however, historical origins often have little to do with the literal words. It is better to memorise the phrase “Hobson's choice = no real choice at all (take it or leave it)” as a fixed unit.

Final Answer:
The correct meaning of the idiom “Hobson's choice” is No real choice at all.