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Question

Difficulty: HardIdiomatic Word Choice

Recognized worldwide as a leading authority over volcanic seismology, Dr. Elena Rostova spent decades analyzing tremor patterns before major eruptions. Her research provided crucial warnings that saved thousands of lives.

Which choice best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. authority onAnswer
  3. C
    authority to
  4. D
    authority with

Answer

authority on
The correct choice is the phrase containing 'on' because the idiom 'authority on' is used to denote that someone is an expert in a particular subject or field. In this sentence, the subject is 'volcanic seismology,' making 'authority on' the correct idiomatic phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context to determine the relationship between the noun 'authority' and the field of study 'volcanic seismology'.
The sentence describes Dr. Rostova's high level of expertise in a scientific field, not her power or jurisdiction over a group.
Choosing the correct preposition depends on whether 'authority' refers to power/control or expertise.
2
Evaluate the idiomatic prepositions that pair with 'authority'.
The idiom 'authority on' indicates expertise in a subject, whereas 'authority over' indicates power/control, and 'authority to' indicates permission to act.
This step determines which prepositional collocation is correct for the intended meaning.
3
Select the option that correctly uses the preposition denoting expertise.
The option containing 'authority on' is the correct idiomatic match for the context.
This provides the proper idiomatic correction for the underlined portion.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Preposition Usage with Nouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Idiomatic Word Choice

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