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Difficulty: HardIdiomatic Word Choice

Although the newly developed quantum processor is capable to simulate complex molecular interactions in seconds, researchers must still rely on classical supercomputers to verify the accuracy of the outputs.

Which of the following options is the most appropriate replacement for the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. capable of simulatingAnswer
  3. C
    capable for simulating
  4. D
    able of simulating

Answer

The correct answer is 'capable of simulating' because the word 'capable' idiomatically pairs with the preposition 'of' and a gerund, whereas 'able' pairs with an infinitive.
The correct option is 'capable of simulating'. In English, the adjective 'capable' must be followed by the preposition 'of' and a gerund (an -ing verb) to form a grammatically correct idiomatic construction. This is correctly implemented in the selected option.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined phrase and the main word being modified.
The word is 'capable', which is followed by the infinitive verb phrase 'to simulate'.
We must evaluate if 'capable to simulate' is the correct idiomatic structure in English.
2
Recall the idiomatic rules governing the words 'capable' and 'able'.
The adjective 'capable' must be followed by 'of' + gerund (e.g., 'capable of simulating'). The adjective 'able' must be followed by the infinitive 'to' (e.g., 'able to simulate').
This helps us identify which preposition and verb form are idiomatically correct for each word.
3
Compare the given options to the correct idiomatic standard.
'capable of simulating' matches the rule for 'capable'. 'capable to' is incorrect, 'capable for' uses the wrong preposition, and 'able of' incorrectly combines 'able' with the preposition 'of'.
This allows us to select the option that is grammatically and idiomatically correct.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Prepositional and Verb Complements
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Topics

Idiomatic Word Choice

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