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Difficulty: MediumCollocation and Idiomatic Fit

Complete the sentence below by entering the appropriate idiomatic phrase or prepositional collocation into each blank.

Answer:While the evolutionary biologist acknowledged that genetic mutations occur randomly, she maintained that the trajectory of natural selection is by no means 【divorced from】 environmental pressures, arguing instead that adaptive traits are intricately 【attuned to】 the specific ecological niches inhabited by organisms.

Answer

Blank 1 requires the idiomatic phrase 'divorced from' (or 'detached from') to express separation, and Blank 2 requires 'attuned to' (or 'aligned with') to express harmonious connection with an environment.
The sentence establishes a contrast between random genetic mutations and non-random natural selection. In the first blank, 'divorced from' correctly conveys that natural selection is not separated from environment. In the second blank, 'attuned to' accurately denotes that adaptive traits are brought into harmony or responsiveness with ecological niches.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural signals and contrast in the first clause.
The phrase 'by no means' signals a negation of the idea that natural selection operates independently of environmental pressures.
Standard academic English uses the preposition 'from' with the verb 'divorced' when indicating separation or disconnection.
2
Analyze the elaboration clue in the second clause.
The word 'instead' indicates that adaptive traits respond directly and harmoniously to their ecological surroundings.
The adjective 'attuned' idiomatically collocates with the preposition 'to' when describing responsiveness or adaptation to an environment.

Key Concept

Prepositional Complementation and Academic Idiomatic Fit
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Topics

Collocation and Idiomatic Fit

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