In English vocabulary and idiom usage, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the common expression "sixth sense".

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: An intuitive power of perception that seems to go beyond the five physical senses

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The idiom sixth sense is a very common expression in English that learners meet in newspapers, films, and conversations. It does not refer to a real biological sense like sight or hearing, but to a mysterious extra awareness that people sometimes feel. Competitive exams often test such idioms, because they check whether a candidate can understand figurative language instead of taking words literally. In this question the task is to select the option that gives the best meaning of sixth sense in simple, clear English.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The expression in focus is the idiom sixth sense. - The context is general English usage, not a scientific or medical definition. - Only one option should capture the accepted figurative meaning. - Other options may sound interesting but must not match the standard idiomatic sense.


Concept / Approach:
To interpret sixth sense correctly, we recall that humans are usually said to have five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. When people speak about a sixth sense, they mean a special kind of awareness or perception that appears to work beyond these five senses. It is often connected with intuition, gut feeling, or instinct. Therefore the correct option should contain the idea of intuitive perception rather than a physical power or supernatural ability like seeing ghosts.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the idiom sixth sense and remember that it refers to an additional sense beyond the basic five. Step 2: Check option A, which mentions an intuitive power of perception that goes beyond the five physical senses. Step 3: Check option B, which talks about strong physical strength, not awareness or perception. Step 4: Check option C, which limits the meaning to seeing ghosts, which is more of a supernatural claim than a general idiom. Step 5: Check option D, which narrows the meaning to taste and smell and ignores the broader idea of intuition. Step 6: Compare all four definitions and see which best captures the usual figurative use of sixth sense.


Verification / Alternative check:
A good way to verify is to place the idiom in a sentence, for example, She has a sixth sense about danger, or He found the solution almost by sixth sense. In these sentences the speaker is clearly talking about a special intuitive awareness, not physical strength, ghost vision, or only taste and smell. Option A fits naturally into such contexts. If we rephrase sixth sense as intuitive feeling or gut instinct, option A again matches, because it refers to an intuitive power of perception beyond the normal senses.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because physical strength and stamina relate to the body, not to mental or intuitive perception. Option C is wrong because sixth sense is not restricted to seeing ghosts and is used much more broadly in everyday language. Option D is wrong because a strong sense of taste and smell is still part of the ordinary five senses and does not suggest an extra intuitive power.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse sixth sense with supernatural abilities shown in horror films, where characters see spirits or predict the future in a dramatic way. While native speakers may sometimes use the phrase in a playful or exaggerated manner, its core meaning is simple intuition or instinct. Another mistake is to connect it with only one physical sense, such as taste or smell, forgetting that it is considered an additional sense as a whole. In exams it is important to choose the option that is broad enough to match most real life uses of the idiom.


Final Answer:
The correct answer is An intuitive power of perception that seems to go beyond the five physical senses.

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