In this sentence improvement item, choose the best replacement for the bracketed phrase "(flair on)" in the sentence about higher crude oil prices and the risk of a future price spiral.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of the difference between similar sounding words and the correct idiom used in economic commentary. The sentence explains that higher crude oil prices have provided a fiscal boost but warns that any future sharp rise could trigger a price spiral with negative effects. The bracketed phrase "flair on" is incorrect in both spelling and structure. You need to pick the phrasal verb that describes a sudden increase in prices.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence discusses crude oil prices and their movement over time.
• The bracketed phrase is "flair on".
• The intended meaning is a sudden, sharp rise in prices in the future.
• Options: "flair in", "flare at", "flare up", and "No improvement".

Concept / Approach:
The noun "flair" means natural talent, while the verb "flare" describes something that suddenly becomes more intense, such as "tensions flare" or "prices flare up". The standard phrasal verb for sudden increase is "flare up". In economic contexts, people say "if prices flare up again" or "a flare up in inflation". The phrase "flair on" is doubly wrong: it uses the wrong word and the wrong preposition. The correct choice is "flare up", which precisely matches the idea of a sudden upward movement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Distinguish between "flair" (talent) and "flare" (sudden intensification). Step 2: Recognise that the sentence is about prices rising suddenly, not about talent or style. Step 3: Recall the phrasal verb "flare up" used for sudden increases or outbreaks. Step 4: Replace "flair on" with "flare up" so the phrase becomes "any flare up going forward". Step 5: Confirm that the new expression fits both the economic context and normal English usage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the improved sentence: "Higher crude oil prices have doubtlessly provided a significant fiscal boost in the past several months, although any flare up going forward can lead to a price spiral that would have other untoward consequences as well." This clearly warns about a sudden jump in prices. "Flair in" would suggest talent in something and is not related to prices. "Flare at" is not a standard expression for price movements. Leaving "flair on" keeps a spelling error and a wrong preposition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Flair in" is incorrect because "flair" refers to talent, not price behaviour, and "in" does not improve the meaning.

"Flare at" is not an idiom used for describing financial or commodity markets.

"No improvement" would keep a phrase that wrongly combines "flair" with "on" and does not express the intended meaning of a sudden price jump.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse "flair" and "flare" because they sound similar. A useful memory aid is to associate "flair" with "talent" and style, as in "artistic flair", and "flare" with fire or sudden light, as in "a flare of anger" or "tensions flare up". When you see a context of prices, conflicts, or diseases increasing suddenly, "flare up" is usually the correct choice. Always link word choice to context, not just sound.

Final Answer:
The correct improvement is "flare up", giving the phrase "any flare up going forward can lead to a price spiral".