In this passage about Bengaluru, choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase "At the risk ________ earning the well-shaped wrath of fellow Bengalureans".

Introduction / Context:
The sentence comes from a reflective passage about Bengaluru and the label it has been given. The author says, "At the risk ________ earning the well-shaped wrath of fellow Bengalureans, let me explain…". This question tests your knowledge of the standard preposition used after the expression "at the risk". It is a test of idiomatic usage rather than complex grammar.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The key fragment is "At the risk ________ earning the well-shaped wrath of fellow Bengalureans".
• Options: for, of, about, over.
• The author is acknowledging that what follows may make other people angry.
• We must choose the preposition that naturally goes with "at the risk".

Concept / Approach:
In English, the standard phrase is "at the risk of" followed by a noun or -ing form of a verb: "at the risk of offending you", "at the risk of sounding rude". The preposition "of" is fixed in this expression. The other prepositions do not collocate with "at the risk" in the same way and would sound incorrect in formal written English. Therefore, the key is to recall the full idiomatic phrase rather than trying to literally translate it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the expression: "At the risk ________ earning…". This is the familiar pattern "at the risk of doing something". Step 2: Recall similar sentences: "At the risk of sounding arrogant…" or "At the risk of being misunderstood…". In each case the preposition is "of". Step 3: Test "for": "At the risk for earning…" does not sound natural and is not a standard combination. Step 4: Test "about": "At the risk about earning…" is clearly wrong; "about" does not fit here. Step 5: Test "over": "At the risk over earning…" is also incorrect because "over" generally follows verbs like "argue over", not "risk". Step 6: Confirm that "of" is the only preposition that makes the phrase grammatical and idiomatic: "At the risk of earning the wrath…".

Verification / Alternative check:
Look at the deeper structure: "risk of earning the wrath" is itself a common pattern, similar to "danger of causing harm" or "possibility of upsetting others". The noun "risk" usually takes the preposition "of" when followed by a gerund or noun: "risk of failure", "risk of infection", "risk of losing money". This pattern strongly supports the choice of "of".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• for: We say "risk for something" mainly in technical contexts like "risk for heart disease", but the idiom "at the risk for doing" is not used.
• about: Normally used with verbs like "worry about" or "complain about", not after "risk".
• over: Often used to show the cause of disagreement ("argue over money") but not in "at the risk over earning".

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners look only at the word "risk" and think any preposition might fit, instead of recalling the entire fixed phrase. Another trap is to overthink and search for a "new" combination rather than trusting the familiar one. In many exam questions, the safest approach is to remember standard idioms like "at the risk of", "in danger of", and "in the hope of".

Final Answer:
The correct preposition is of, giving "At the risk of earning the well-shaped wrath of fellow Bengalureans".