Choose the option that will replace the error highlighted in bold.
The researchers conducted a study to do light on the effects of climate change on coral reefs.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
Shed
Explanation
The sentence highlights an error where an incorrect verb is paired with the word "light." To solve this quickly for an exam, identify the specific idiomatic phrase or collocation used when making a problem or subject clearer or easier to understand.
In English, the standard, fixed idiom is to "shed light on" something.
While the word "throw" can sometimes be used in a similar expression ("throw light on"), the most precise, formal, and widely accepted academic collocation to replace the incorrect phrase "to do light" in this context is "shed". The options "make" and "bring" do not form the correct idiomatic expression with "light on." Therefore, Option 4 is the correct choice.
Key Points
Correcting idiomatic errors requires identifying standard, fixed phrasal expressions that have a specific, established meaning in English.
The verb "shed" is the most appropriate and formal pairing when referring to revealing new information or clarifying a research topic.