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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdiomatic Prepositions

Read the sentence below and answer the question that follows.

Although the lead paleontologist had spent decades studying avian evolution, she remained oddly averse with accepting the newly discovered fossil as a direct link between theropods and modern birds.

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

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. averse toAnswer
  3. C
    averse from
  4. D
    averse against

Answer

The choice 'averse to' is correct because standard English idiom requires the adjective 'averse' to be followed by the preposition 'to'.
In standard written English, the adjective 'averse' must be followed by the preposition 'to' when expressing reluctance or opposition (e.g., 'averse to accepting').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined phrase and the word being modified.
The underlined phrase is 'averse with', which follows the adjective 'averse'.
English idiomatic expressions require specific prepositions following specific adjectives.
2
Determine the correct standard English prepositional pairing for 'averse'.
The adjective 'averse' (meaning opposed or disinclined) idiomatically pairs with 'to'.
Prepositions such as 'with', 'from', or 'against' violate standard English usage when attached to 'averse'.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Preposition Usage
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Topics

Idiomatic Prepositions

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