In an attempt to secure rapid promotion, the ambitious civil servant constantly sought to … — JAMB UTME

In an attempt to secure rapid promotion, the ambitious civil servant constantly sought to curry _______ with senior officials in the ministry. Which of the following words correctly completes the fixed English collocation in the sentence?

favourAnswer
B
support
C
goodwill
D
approval

Answer

The word 'favour' completes the fixed idiom 'curry favour with'.

The idiom 'curry favour (with someone)' is a fixed phrase in standard English that means to try to make someone like or support you, often using flattery or insincere behavior. No other noun collocates with 'curry' in this manner.

Step-by-Step Solution

Analyze the sentence context and identify the target verb requiring a specific collocating noun.

The verb is 'curry', used in a context of trying to flatter superiors for personal gain.

English has specific fixed expressions where verbs combine with set nouns to produce idiomatic meanings.

Evaluate the choices against established English fixed phrases.

Only 'favour' forms the established idiomatic expression 'curry favour with'.

Words like 'support', 'goodwill', and 'approval' are near-synonyms in general sense, but fail to form the correct fixed collocation with 'curry'.

Key Concept

Fixed Idiomatic Collocations (Verb + Noun)

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Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

Common Mistakes

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