In this sentence-improvement question on idiomatic expressions, choose which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "he really sticks on his guns" in the sentence "Despite the abuse and insults that were hurled at him, he really sticks on his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your knowledge of idiomatic expressions and tense consistency. The sentence reads: "Despite the abuse and insults that were hurled at him, he really sticks on his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm." The highlighted phrase "he really sticks on his guns" is intended to express the idiom "stick to one's guns", which means to remain firm in one's opinion or position despite pressure. You must decide which suggested alternative phrase uses the idiom correctly and matches the tense of the rest of the sentence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Original phrase: "he really sticks on his guns".
• Option (i): he really stuck onto his guns and showed the protesters.
• Option (ii): he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters.
• Option (iii): he really is sticking his guns onto the protesters.
• The earlier clause uses past tense: "insults that were hurled at him" and "showed the protesters".
• We need the idiom "stuck to his guns" in a consistent past tense form.

Concept / Approach:
The correct idiom is "stick to one's guns", not "stick on" or "stick onto". It means to remain firm in one's position. Because the narrative is in the past ("were hurled", "showed"), the idiom should also appear in the past tense ("stuck to his guns"). Option (ii) preserves both the correct preposition and the correct tense. Option (i) changes the preposition to "onto", which is wrong for this idiom, and option (iii) changes the meaning and structure entirely.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the idiom intended: "stick to his guns" meaning remain firm in his position. Step 2: Note that the sentence uses past tense verbs "were hurled" and "showed", so the main clause should also be in the past tense. Step 3: Evaluate option (i): "he really stuck onto his guns and showed the protesters" – the preposition "onto" is incorrect; the idiom is "stick to", not "stick onto". Step 4: Evaluate option (ii): "he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters" – this uses the correct past tense "stuck" and the correct preposition "to". Step 5: Evaluate option (iii): "he really is sticking his guns onto the protesters" – this changes the meaning completely and misuses the idiom; it also conflicts with past tense context. Step 6: Conclude that only option (ii) gives a correct and idiomatic sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert option (ii) into the sentence: "Despite the abuse and insults that were hurled at him, he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm." This is grammatically correct, maintains past tense throughout, and clearly expresses that he remained firm in his calm stance despite provocation. Native speakers also commonly use this exact form of the idiom in past narratives, which further confirms its accuracy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option (i) uses "stuck onto his guns", which is not the standard idiom; the correct preposition is "to", not "onto". Option (iii) "is sticking his guns onto the protesters" is incorrect for at least three reasons: wrong tense (present continuous), wrong structure (suggesting physical guns), and loss of the idiomatic meaning. The original "sticks on his guns" is also incorrect in both preposition and tense.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students misremember idioms and change prepositions, leading to incorrect forms like "stick on" or "stick with". Another common error is neglecting tense consistency and leaving one part of a sentence in present tense while the rest is in past tense. In exams, always check idioms in their standard, textbook form, and ensure the verb tense matches the surrounding narrative. This attention to detail can significantly improve your accuracy in sentence-improvement questions.

Final Answer:
The correct replacement is Only ii, so the clause should read "he really stuck to his guns and showed the protesters how to be calm".