Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined may have an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Not hardly anyone protested when the dictator sentenced the innocent to the gallows.

'Not hardly' is a double negative. 'Hardly' is already negative, so adding 'not' is incorrect. When a negative adverb like 'hardly' starts a sentence for emphasis, subject-auxiliary inversion is required: 'Hardly did anyone protest'. 'Hardly anyone protested' is grammatically correct but lacks the formal emphasis the inverted structure provides.