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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdiomatic Word Choice

Read the following passage:

During the Klondike Gold Rush, thousands of prospectors traveled to the Yukon Territory [1] in search for fortune, despite the freezing temperatures and treacherous mountain passes.

Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion marked [1]?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. in search ofAnswer
  3. C
    in search with
  4. D
    searching to

Answer

in search of
The correct answer is 'in search of' because it is the standard English idiomatic construction used to express that someone is looking for something. When 'search' functions as a noun within this prepositional phrase, it must be paired with the preposition 'of'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined portion 'in search for' and determine if the preposition pairs correctly with the noun 'search' in this specific phrase.
The text uses 'in search for' to show the goal of the prospectors.
Determining idiomatic correctness requires identifying the correct preposition that pairs with 'in search'.
2
Distinguish between the verb form and the noun form of the word 'search' to select the appropriate preposition.
The verb 'search' takes the preposition 'for' (e.g., 'to search for gold'), but the noun in the prepositional phrase 'in search' requires 'of' (e.g., 'in search of gold'). Therefore, the correct option is 'in search of'.
This step resolves the common confusion between the verb and noun forms, allowing the student to select the correct idiom.

Key Concept

Idiomatic preposition usage after nouns
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Topics

Idiomatic Word Choice

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