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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdiomatic Word Choice

Read the following passage segment:

The vibrant yellow plumage is characteristic with the male American goldfinch during the spring and summer breeding seasons.

Which choice is the most appropriate replacement for the underlined portion?

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

Answer

characteristic of
The adjective 'characteristic' is idiomatically followed by the preposition 'of' when defining a trait typical of a specific animal, person, or object. Therefore, the phrase 'characteristic of' correctly connects the plumage to the goldfinch.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the adjective in the underlined phrase that dictates the correct preposition.
The adjective 'characteristic' must be linked to 'the male American goldfinch.'
English adjectives often require specific prepositions to form standard idiomatic expressions.
2
Determine which preposition standardly pairs with 'characteristic' to indicate a typical feature of a group or species.
The correct idiomatic preposition is 'of,' forming the phrase 'characteristic of.'
Using 'with,' 'to,' or 'for' with 'characteristic' creates an unidiomatic combination that is incorrect in standard written English.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Preposition Usage
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Idiomatic Word Choice

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