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Question

Difficulty: HardPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

After several hours of intensive dialogue, the mediation council managed to __________ the striking workers to return to the negotiating table. Which option correctly completes the sentence?

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

Answer

prevail on
The prepositional verb 'prevail on' (or 'prevail upon') means to persuade or induce someone to take a specific course of action. In the context of the sentence, the mediation council succeeded in persuading the workers to return to the negotiating table.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the semantic requirement of the sentence context.
The sentence requires a prepositional verb that means 'to persuade someone to perform an action'.
The mediation council is attempting to convince striking workers to resume negotiations.
2
Distinguish between the meanings of different particles paired with the verb 'prevail'.
'Prevail on' means to persuade, whereas 'prevail over' means to defeat, and 'prevail against' means to withstand.
Prepositional verbs derive their specific meanings from the particle attached to the base verb.
3
Choose the option that aligns with the context of persuasion.
'prevail on' is the correct prepositional verb.
It accurately completes the statement with the intended sense of successful persuasion.

Key Concept

Prepositional Verb Particle Differentiation ('prevail on' vs. 'prevail over')
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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