Time Expressions – Choose the option that BEST explains the highlighted phrase in context. Sentence: “It is high time that India did something about the population problem.” What does “high time” imply?

Introduction / Context:
“It is high time …” is a set expression indicating that an action is overdue; something should have been done earlier. In policy discussions, it conveys urgency and delay, not merely suitability or auspiciousness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Expression: “high time”.
• Topic: addressing the population problem.
• We must choose a paraphrase that preserves the sense of lateness.

Concept / Approach:
Distinguish “high time” (past due) from “right time” (appropriate) or “auspicious moment” (lucky/ceremonial). The structure “It is high time that + past form” is an idiomatic way to press for immediate action.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Interpret idiom: overdue necessity.Compare options: only “already late” captures lateness.Select the accurate paraphrase and confirm with the grammar cue (past form after “high time”).

Verification / Alternative check:
Paraphrase: “It is already late for India to act on the population problem.” This keeps the urgency intact.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• appropriate time: suitability, not lateness.
• desired occasion: personal preference, not urgency.
• auspicious moment: ceremonial luck, not policy urgency.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing the idiom’s lateness with mere timeliness; overlooking the conventional past tense after “high time.”

Final Answer:
already late