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Difficulty: MediumCollocation and Idiomatic Fit

Although the evolutionary biologist admitted that early mammalian development was significantly influenced by environmental factors, she maintained that the core structural adaptations of the species were ultimately ________ structural constraints inherited from ancestral organisms rather than immediate ecological pressures. Which of the following idiomatic phrases best completes the sentence?

  1. predicated onAnswer
  2. B
    synonymous with
  3. C
    contingent upon
  4. D
    tantamount to
  5. E
    incompatible with

Answer

The correct completion is 'predicated on' because it appropriately expresses that the adaptations are grounded in or founded upon inherited constraints, satisfying standard academic collocation.
The phrase 'predicated on' is an established academic collocation meaning 'founded upon' or 'based on'. In context, it accurately conveys that the biologist views species adaptations as fundamentally grounded in inherited ancestral constraints.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze sentence syntax and structural signals
The concession 'Although... admitted' and contrast indicator 'rather than' establish that structural adaptations are grounded in inherited constraints instead of immediate ecological pressures.
Identifying sentence polarity and logical relationships is necessary to determine the required meaning of the missing phrase.
2
Determine semantic and idiomatic requirements
The blank requires an idiomatic phrase meaning 'based upon' or 'founded on' that pairs correctly with the preposition 'on'.
Standard academic written English demands precise prepositional complementation.
3
Evaluate options for idiomatic fit and contextual alignment
'Predicated on' standardly means based on, making it the only option that satisfies both the logical relation and proper idiomatic usage.
Other choices either introduce incorrect prepositions, reverse the logical polarity, or alter the meaning to equivalence rather than foundation.

Key Concept

Collocation and Idiomatic Fit
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Topics

Collocation and Idiomatic Fit

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