In the following sentence improvement question, the underlined expression is Woe betide: Woe betide the youngster who is less than respectful. Choose the best replacement, or select No improvement if the expression is already correct.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks whether you recognise the fixed expression Woe betide in English. The sentence is Woe betide the youngster who is less than respectful, and the underlined expression is Woe betide. This archaic but still understood phrase is used to warn that something bad will happen to someone who behaves in a particular way. Your task is to decide whether this expression is correct or needs improvement.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: Woe betide the youngster who is less than respectful.
• Underlined expression: Woe betide.
• Options: Woes beside, Woe beside, Woes betide, No improvement, Woe be tied.
• Meaning: Let misfortune fall upon the youngster who is less than respectful.

Concept / Approach:
Woe betide is a standard and idiomatic expression in English. It literally means may trouble or misfortune come to someone. It often appears with a strong warning tone, especially in formal or literary contexts. None of the alternative spellings or phrases given in the options (Woes beside, Woe beside, Woes betide, Woe be tied) are correct expressions. Therefore, the original wording is already right and should not be changed.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of similar uses in literature or speech, such as Woe betide anyone who breaks this rule. These uses confirm that Woe betide is the accepted and meaningful expression. If you replace it with Woes beside, the result becomes nonsense: Woes beside the youngster does not communicate a clear meaning and is ungrammatical. Woe be tied is sometimes misheard or jokingly used but is not standard English and is not appropriate for exam purposes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Woes beside) is grammatically incorrect and does not form a recognised expression. Option B (Woe beside) again fails to convey the idea of misfortune falling on someone; beside is the wrong preposition here. Option C (Woes betide) wrongly makes woe plural and sounds unnatural. Option E (Woe be tied) is a playful or mistaken version that is not accepted in standard written English and does not carry the established meaning of the warning idiom.

Common Pitfalls:
Because Woe betide is slightly old-fashioned, some candidates assume it must be incorrect and try to replace it with something more modern-looking. Others may be confused by the spelling and think that be tied is intended. However, exams often test knowledge of such fixed, slightly archaic expressions. When you encounter a phrase that you recognise from reading or that appears in dictionaries as an idiom, you should strongly consider choosing No improvement if the grammar and meaning are both sound.

Final Answer:
The expression is already correct, so the right choice is No improvement. The sentence remains: Woe betide the youngster who is less than respectful.