Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?
Explanation
Answer: C - Corrected version: defuse the situation,
Diffuse should be changed to defuse. To defuse is to remove the fuse from a bomb, while diffuse, as a verb, is to spread out. It is easy to make a mistake when using these words metaphorically because there is some overlap; you could imagine diffusing the tension in the room, for example. As a test, ask if the object could be meaningfully spread out; tension can, but the situation cannot, so defuse is appropriate here.
