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Question

Difficulty: HardIdiomatic Prepositions

Architectural historians have noted that the intricate geometric carvings decorating the palace walls are characteristic to the late Islamic style, which emphasized complex ornamentation over pictorial representation. Which choice best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. characteristic ofAnswer
  3. C
    characteristic with
  4. D
    characteristic for

Answer

characteristic of
The correct answer is 'characteristic of' because the adjective 'characteristic' idiomatically requires the preposition 'of' when describing a typical or defining feature of a particular style, group, or person.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined phrase 'characteristic to' and evaluate if 'characteristic' is paired with the correct idiomatic preposition in this context.
The original phrasing 'characteristic to' is incorrect because it violates standard English idiom rules.
English adjectives often require specific prepositions to form standard idiomatic expressions, and 'characteristic' does not pair with 'to'.
2
Evaluate the alternative options to find the correct prepositional pairing.
The standard idiomatic pairing is 'characteristic of' when expressing that a quality is typical of a style, person, or group.
Prepositions must follow standard idiomatic usage. While we say 'unique to' or 'native to,' we must say 'characteristic of.'

Key Concept

Idiomatic Prepositions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Idiomatic Prepositions

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