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Difficulty: MediumIdiomatic Prepositions

The materials scientist noted that the newly developed ceramic compound was remarkably impervious for extreme heat and chemical corrosion, making it an ideal candidate for spacecraft heat shields.

Which of the following choices produces a grammatically correct and idiomatically standard sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. impervious toAnswer
  3. C
    impervious with
  4. D
    impervious against

Answer

impervious to
The adjective 'impervious' idiomatically pairs with the preposition 'to', meaning incapable of being passed through or affected by something. The phrase 'impervious to' creates a grammatically correct and standard sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined adjective-preposition construction in the sentence.
The word 'impervious' is followed by the preposition 'for'.
Standard English conventions dictate specific fixed prepositions following certain adjectives.
2
Determine the correct idiomatic preposition associated with 'impervious'.
'Impervious' idiomatically requires the preposition 'to' (impervious to).
Alternatives such as 'impervious for', 'impervious with', or 'impervious against' violate standard English usage rules.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Preposition Usage with Adjectives
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Topics

Idiomatic Prepositions

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