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Difficulty: MediumPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

Despite his initial reluctance to address the press regarding the sudden policy changes, the committee members managed to __________ him to speak at the summit. Which option correctly completes the sentence?

  1. prevail uponAnswer
  2. B
    prevail over
  3. C
    prevail against
  4. D
    prevail with

Answer

The phrasal verb 'prevail upon' correctly completes the sentence.
The phrasal verb 'prevail upon' (or 'prevail on') means to successfully persuade or induce someone to do something, which precisely fits the context of convincing a reluctant speaker.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to determine the required meaning.
The subject is reluctant, but the committee successfully influences or persuades him to speak.
The blank requires a verb-preposition combination meaning 'to persuade' or 'to convince someone'.
2
Evaluate the phrasal/prepositional verb meanings.
'Prevail upon' means to persuade someone to do something. 'Prevail over' and 'prevail against' mean to defeat or triumph over an adversary.
Choosing the particle 'upon' yields the precise idiomatic sense demanded by the context.

Key Concept

Phrasal and Prepositional Verbs: Particle Selection and Contextual Meaning
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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