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Difficulty: MediumConjunctions and Clause Structure

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the most appropriate conjunction.

Answer:The safety officer ordered an immediate evacuation of the refinery premises, lest a secondary chemical explosion 【should】 occur before emergency teams arrived.

Answer

should
The subordinating conjunction 'lest' means 'for fear that' and requires the auxiliary modal verb 'should' (or the bare infinitive subjunctive) in the dependent clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the subordinate clause introductory conjunction.
The clause is introduced by the conjunction 'lest', which denotes purpose or fear that something undesirable might happen ('for fear that').
The word 'lest' sets up a dependent clause expressing a potential negative outcome that needs to be avoided.
2
Determine the required auxiliary verb for the clause following 'lest'.
The auxiliary verb 'should' (or the bare subjunctive verb form) must follow 'lest'.
Standard English grammar dictates that 'lest' is conventionally followed by 'should' plus the base form of the verb, or simply the present subjunctive verb form.

Key Concept

Adverbial Clauses of Purpose and the Use of 'Lest'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Conjunctions and Clause Structure

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