After the sentence below, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you…

Analyze the question: The sentence uses the idiom "show one's true colors." You are asked what "people rarely show" means here. Note that "hardly" means "rarely" or "almost never."

Explain the concept: An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is not the literal meaning of its words. "To show one's true colors" means to reveal one's real nature or character, especially a side that was hidden before. It has nothing to do with literal colors.

Solution:

1. "Hardly" = rarely, so the sentence says people seldom reveal something about themselves.
2. "True colors" = a person's genuine character, as opposed to the image they present to others.
3. Check the options: • A. their abilities: This is about skills, not character. Wrong. • B. how colourful they can be: This reads the idiom literally. Wrong. • C. their real character: This matches the idiom's meaning. Correct. • D. how noble they are: This is too narrow. True colors can be good or bad, not only noble. Wrong.

Answer: The sentence means that people rarely show their real character, so the answer is C.

Exam tip: For idiom questions, don't take the words literally. Ask what the phrase means in everyday use, and drop options that are too narrow (like D) or too literal (like B). Related idioms: "come out in one's true colors" and "show one's hand."