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Question

Difficulty: HardAdjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct degree modifier.

Answer:Of the two environmental restoration strategies submitted to the cabinet, the coastal mangrove initiative was considered the 【more】 viable.

Answer

The correct modifier is 'more'.
When comparing precisely two entities or options, standard English grammar requires the comparative degree modifier ('more'). Therefore, 'more' is the only grammatically correct word to complete the comparison between the two restoration strategies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the number of entities being compared in the sentence.
The sentence explicitly specifies a comparison between two entities ('Of the two environmental restoration strategies...').
Grammatical rules governing modifiers depend on whether two entities or more than two entities are being compared.
2
Determine the appropriate degree of comparison (comparative vs. superlative).
The comparative degree ('more') must be used for two entities, while the superlative degree ('most') is reserved for three or more.
In formal English syntax, using a superlative modifier for a set of only two items is grammatically incorrect.
3
Supply the correct comparative modifier for the adjective 'viable'.
The modifier 'more' correctly completes the phrase 'the more viable'.
'Viable' forms its comparative degree multisyllabically using 'more'.

Key Concept

Degrees of Comparison: Comparative vs. Superlative Modifiers
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Topics

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

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