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Question

Difficulty: Very hardPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

Despite initial reluctance from the executive board, the lead negotiator was able to ________ the stakeholders to accept the revised terms of the restructuring agreement. Which of the following prepositional verbs correctly completes the sentence?

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

Answer

prevail upon
The prepositional verb 'prevail upon' (or 'prevail on') specifically means to successfully persuade or induce someone to perform an action. In the stem, the lead negotiator persuades the reluctant stakeholders to accept the revised terms, making this option contextually and idiomatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning required by the sentence.
The sentence describes inducing or persuading reluctant stakeholders to agree to new terms.
Understanding the precise nuance of the missing verb structure is essential before evaluating particle options.
2
Distinguish between the meanings of prepositional variants of 'prevail'.
'Prevail upon' means to persuade someone to act, whereas 'prevail over' and 'prevail against' both signify defeating or overcoming an opponent.
Choosing the correct particle ensures compliance with Standard British English usage required by the JAMB UTME.

Key Concept

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs - Particle Selection and Contextual Nuance
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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