In this cloze passage on yoga, you must complete the phrase “erstwhile-overweight beach posers ____________ the other” so that it correctly contrasts with “at one end of the spectrum,” forming the natural English expression “at the other” end of the spectrum.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: at

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question continues the same passage about yoga and the extreme images associated with it. The specific fragment is “erstwhile-overweight beach posers ____________ the other,” and it must grammatically and idiomatically complete the earlier expression “at one end of the spectrum.” The test here is whether you can recall the standard pair expression used in English for talking about two extremes of a range or spectrum.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The earlier part of the passage reads: “of yogis in pretzel-like contortions at one end of the spectrum.”
  • The contrasting part refers to “erstwhile-overweight beach posers ____________ the other.”
  • Options offered: in, on, of, at.
  • The completed idea is meant to be that these posers are at the other end of the same spectrum.


Concept / Approach:
The key concept is recognition of the set phrase “at one end of the spectrum and at the other.” The preposition “at” is used with “end” when talking about fixed points or positions, such as “at the end of the road” or “at the end of the book.” This pattern extends to abstract uses like “at one end of the spectrum” and “at the other end of the spectrum.” Therefore, the missing word should be the preposition “at,” not any of the others given as alternatives.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the sentence is setting up a contrast between two extremes.Step 2: Recall the first part: “at one end of the spectrum,” which already uses the preposition “at.”Step 3: Understand that the natural counterpart is “at the other” end.Step 4: Check option D, “at,” which makes the phrase “erstwhile-overweight beach posers at the other,” giving a clear contrast.Step 5: Consider that “in the other,” “on the other,” or “of the other” end are not standard expressions in this context.Step 6: Conclude that “at” is the only preposition that matches both the collocation with “end” and the established pattern.


Verification / Alternative check:
Insert the selected word and read the full contrasting pair: “of yogis in pretzel-like contortions at one end of the spectrum, and young Instagram-led, erstwhile-overweight beach posers at the other.” This version is smooth and idiomatic. If we attempted “in the other,” the phrase would sound unnatural and incomplete. Similarly, “on the other” or “of the other” do not correspond to any common idiom in this structure. Therefore “at” is confirmed as the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“In” is used for being inside something or involved in an activity, but we do not normally say “in the other end of the spectrum” in this fixed expression. “On” can be used with “end” in some physical contexts, but the standard idiom here is “at the other end,” not “on the other end,” when contrasting extremes of an abstract spectrum. “Of” is part of the larger phrase “end of the spectrum,” but alone as a preposition in the blank it would create “posers of the other,” which is incomplete and incorrect. Only “at” yields a complete and standard phrase.


Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is guessing based on general familiarity with prepositions without recalling specific idioms. Learners may also be tempted to use “in” because it frequently appears with “spectrum” in phrases like “in the spectrum,” but here the phrase is about position at an end, not about belonging within a range. To avoid such confusion, pay attention to full expressions you encounter in reading, such as “at both ends of the scale” or “at one extreme and at the other.” Recognising these patterns makes cloze questions involving prepositions much easier.


Final Answer:
The correct preposition to complete the phrase is at, giving “erstwhile-overweight beach posers at the other” end of the spectrum.

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