Select the most effective prepositions from the given words to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningfully, complete the questions

The man who connives ___ the faults of his children is their worst enemy.

MCQ Explanation

Select the most effective prepositions from the given words to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningfully complete:

"The man who connives ___ the faults of his children is their worst enemy."

The choices are:

1. With

2. At

3. Or

4. On

Correct Answer: At

Explanation

To understand why the preposition "at" is the correct choice, let's break down the sentence and examine the context in which different prepositions might be used:

Analysis of the Sentence

The sentence in question is: "The man who connives ___ the faults of his children is their worst enemy."

To connive means to secretly allow or be complicit in wrongdoing. In this context, the prepositions "with," "at," "or," and "on" have different implications:

1. With: "With" typically implies collaboration or being in conjunction with someone or something. Example: "He works with her on the project." This choice suggests active collaboration, which isn't appropriate here.

3. At: "At" in this context is used to denote a mental attitude towards something, commonly used in phrases like "connive at." The phrase "connive at" specifically means to overlook or be complicit in wrongdoing discreetly. Therefore, this preposition correctly fits the sentence.

5. Or: "Or" is a conjunction used to link alternatives. Example: "Do you prefer tea or coffee?" It does not function as a preposition in this context and is grammatically inappropriate.

7. On: "On" typically indicates position or involvement in something. Example: "He is on the committee." Although slight possibilities of usage can be argued in different contexts (connive on plans), it does not fit the sentence correctly.

Summary:

Given the definitions and typical usages of these prepositions, the correct preposition here is "at." The phrase "connive at" is an established English expression meaning to tacitly allow or secretly be involved in wrongdoing, making it the most suitable choice to complete the sentence meaningfully.

For further reference on the usage of "connive at," one may consult Oxford Learner's Dictionaries where detailed definitions and contextual examples are provided.