He is temperate ______ his response to criticism.
2024
He is temperate ______ his response to criticism.
- A.
with
- B.
on
- C.
of
- D.
in
Attempted by 26 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
Many English adjectives are fixed to a particular preposition by collocation (an established word-partnership), not by logic. The adjective "temperate" means moderate, self-restrained, or showing self-control. The standard collocation for this adjective is "temperate in", and the noun after it names the activity or respect within which the restraint is shown (for example, temperate in eating, temperate in speech).
Application
The sentence shows the person staying moderate and controlled in how he reacts to criticism, so the fixed preposition for "temperate" fills the blank, giving "temperate in his response to criticism."
Why the other prepositions do not fit
"with" goes with adjectives of feeling aimed at a person (angry with, patient with); "temperate" is not such a feeling, so "temperate with" is not standard.
"on" introduces a topic one comments on (keen on, an essay on); "temperate" does not take a topic, so "temperate on" is wrong.
"of" signals possession or material (fond of, made of); "temperate" shows neither, so "temperate of" does not collocate.
Cross-check
Its near-synonym "moderate" keeps the same partner — one is "moderate in" one's habits or reactions — confirming that "in" is the preposition that idiomatically follows this adjective.