As a Journalist, Bola has always had a nose for stories

Analyze the question The underlined expression is "a nose for stories" (in the original, "had a nose for"). We need the option closest in meaning to "a nose for" in this context.

Explain the concept "To have a nose for something" is an idiom. It means to have a natural ability or instinct for finding or detecting something. For example:

• "She has a nose for bargains" means she can sense where good deals are.
• "He has a nose for trouble" means he can sense trouble coming.

Step-by-step solution

1. A journalist's job is to find news stories.
2. Saying Bola "has always had a nose for stories" means she has a natural talent for sniffing out good stories.
3. Now check the options: • A. an instinct: a natural ability to sense something. This fits. • B. a command: an order. This does not fit. • C. soft comment: has nothing to do with detecting stories. • D. cynical statement: a cynical remark is a sneering or distrustful one, which has no link to the idiom.

Answer: A. an instinct

Tip: For idioms involving body parts, such as "a nose for", "an eye for" and "an ear for", the meaning usually points to a natural ability or sensitivity. "A nose for" means an instinct for detecting something, "an eye for" means a keen sense of judgment (as in "an eye for detail"), and "an ear for" means a talent for hearing or appreciating (as in "an ear for music").