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Difficulty: MediumPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

Complete the sentence below with the most appropriate prepositional verb:

"After hours of intense deliberation, the mediator managed to _______ the aggrieved workers to resume duties while negotiations continued."

Which option correctly completes the sentence?

  1. prevail onAnswer
  2. B
    prevail over
  3. C
    prevail with
  4. D
    prevail at

Answer

prevail on
The prepositional verb 'prevail on' (or 'prevail upon') specifically means to persuade or urge someone successfully to take a course of action. In this context, the mediator successfully persuaded the workers to return to work, making this the correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The sentence describes a mediator attempting to convince aggrieved employees to go back to work.
Identifying the target semantic role establishes that a verb of persuasion is required.
2
Distinguish between prepositional combinations with the verb root 'prevail'
'Prevail on' means to persuade someone, whereas 'prevail over' means to conquer or master someone.
Choosing the correct preposition depends on selecting the particle that yields the exact intended sense.

Key Concept

Prepositional verb particle selection and subtle distinctions in meaning
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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