Idioms in Policy / Economy – Choose the option that BEST explains the highlighted expression. Sentence: The new economic policy is likely to run into rough weather.

Introduction / Context:
“Run into rough weather” is a metaphor from navigation, frequently used in business, policy, and project management to predict obstacles. It indicates that an initiative will face significant resistance, criticism, or operational roadblocks ahead.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Subject: a new economic policy.
• Verb phrase: “run into” suggests encountering, not causing.
• Weather metaphor: “rough” implies turbulence or storms (i.e., difficulties).

Concept / Approach:
Between “create” and “encounter,” the idiom always aligns with encountering external difficulties rather than generating them. The most precise paraphrase uses a neutral, formal phrase like “encounter difficulties.” Other choices either shift agency or dilute the idiomatic nuance.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Map the maritime metaphor to organizational risk.Note that “run into” = meet/encounter unexpectedly.Choose “encounter difficulties” as the closest formal paraphrase.Validate by substituting into the sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Replace: “is likely to encounter difficulties.” This reads exactly as many policy briefs would phrase the forecast.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• create problems: flips agency; the policy may create problems, but the idiom predicts facing them.
• confuse matters: too narrow and specific.
• makes things difficult: incorrect grammar relative to the subject and less precise.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing cause with encounter; treating the weather metaphor literally.

Final Answer:
encounter difficulties