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Question

Difficulty: Very hardAdjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blanks with the grammatically correct forms of the modifiers.

Answer:Between the two architectural proposals submitted for the administrative complex, the committee considered the former far 【superior】 to the latter, noting that its layout had been planned 【more meticulously】 than any other design evaluated this year.

Answer

The first blank requires 'superior' (a Latin comparative adjective that takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'than' and cannot be modified by 'more'). The second blank requires 'more meticulously' (the comparative adverb form needed to modify the participle 'planned' when making a comparison).
The adjective 'superior' inherently carries a comparative sense derived from Latin, making 'more superior' redundant. It correctly pairs with the preposition 'to'. The phrase 'more meticulously' is the required comparative adverb modifying the verb participle 'planned'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the correct adjective form for the first blank.
The word must modify the option and collocate with 'to the latter'. The adjective 'superior' is an inherent Latin comparative and must not be paired with 'more'.
Latin comparatives like 'superior', 'inferior', and 'prior' already express comparison and take 'to' instead of 'than'; adding 'more' creates an ungrammatical double comparative.
2
Determine the correct adverbial form for the second blank.
The word modifies the verb participle 'planned' in a comparative construction ('than any other design'), requiring the comparative adverb 'more meticulously'.
Adverbs ending in '-ly' form their comparative degree by adding 'more', and an adverb (not an adjective) must be used to modify a verb.

Key Concept

Degrees of Comparison: Latin Adjectives and Comparative Adverbs
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

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