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Difficulty: Very hardPrepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Complete the text below by supplying the correct preposition for each blank space.

Answer:The scholar argued that modern consumerist culture is fundamentally incompatible 【with】 traditional agrarian values, asserting that unchecked industrial growth is ultimately subversive 【of】 ecological balance.

Answer

The first blank requires 'with' and the second blank requires 'of'.
The adjective 'incompatible' takes the dependent preposition 'with' to denote that two ideas or systems cannot exist together harmoniously. The adjective 'subversive' takes the dependent preposition 'of' in formal English to denote causing the destruction or weakening of an established state or balance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the preposition governed by the adjective 'incompatible'.
In standard English grammar, 'incompatible' collocates with 'with' when showing mutual exclusivity between concepts.
The sentence describes two opposing systems (consumerist culture and agrarian values) that cannot coexist.
2
Determine the preposition governed by the adjective 'subversive'.
In formal prescriptivist usage, 'subversive' requires the preposition 'of' when followed by the object being undermined.
The phrase 'subversive of' indicates the quality of tending to undermine, weaken, or overthrow an established order or balance.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions with Adjectives
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

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