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Question

Difficulty: MediumCollocations and Fixed Phrases

When the severe economic recession struck the nation, low-income households were forced to _______ the brunt of the escalating inflation. Which of the following words correctly completes the fixed verb-noun collocation in the sentence?

  1. bearAnswer
  2. B
    carry
  3. C
    suffer
  4. D
    sustain

Answer

bear
In standard English usage, the verb 'bear' naturally pairs with the noun phrase 'the brunt of' to mean enduring the chief stress, force, or impact of an unpleasant situation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target noun phrase in the sentence structure.
The target noun phrase following the blank is 'the brunt of'.
Recognizing the head noun phrase helps determine the standard fixed verb pairing in English.
2
Select the verb that conventionally collocates with 'the brunt of'.
The established standard English expression is 'to bear the brunt of'.
English collocations are fixed pairings established by usage; 'bear' is the only verb that forms this idiomatic collocation.

Key Concept

Fixed Verb-Noun Collocations
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Collocations and Fixed Phrases

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