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Question

Difficulty: MediumPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

The committee chairman observed that the proposed budget figures did not ________ the financial audit conducted earlier in the year. Which prepositional verb best completes the sentence?

  1. square withAnswer
  2. B
    square up
  3. C
    square to
  4. D
    square on

Answer

The expression 'square with' correctly completes the sentence to mean 'agree or be consistent with'.
The prepositional verb 'square with' means to correspond with, match, or be consistent with something (such as evidence, facts, or figures). In the given context, it correctly describes the relationship between the budget figures and the audit findings.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning of the sentence
The sentence requires a verb form meaning 'to match', 'to agree with', or 'to be consistent with' given the comparison between budget figures and audit results.
Understanding the context establishes the required idiomatic sense of the missing prepositional verb.
2
Evaluate the verb 'square' with its associated prepositions
'Square with' standardly signifies alignment or agreement with facts or statements.
Prepositional verbs require the precise preposition mandated by standard English usage to convey the intended meaning.

Key Concept

Prepositional Verb Collocation and Meaning
Estimated Time:50s
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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