In the checklist passage, choose the correct preposition to complete the expression “if the checklist is framed as a set ______ questions”.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: of

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This cloze question again comes from the passage explaining the nature of a checklist. The sentence under consideration is “That means, if the checklist is framed as a set ______ questions, the answer to every question can only be a binary 'Yes' ______ 'No' ...”. The focus here is the standard English phrase “a set of questions”. This item tests your familiarity with common prepositional patterns following nouns like “set”, “group”, “bunch” or “series”. Choosing the correct preposition is essential to keep the sentence natural and idiomatic.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    • Sentence fragment: “if the checklist is framed as a set ______ questions”. • Options: of, off, for, from. • We are talking specifically about a group or collection of questions. • The phrase “set of questions” is very common in academic English.


Concept / Approach:
In English, certain nouns consistently take particular prepositions when referring to collections: “a set of questions”, “a group of students”, “a bunch of keys”. The noun “set” when used in this way almost always takes the preposition “of” to introduce the items in the set. The other prepositions “off”, “for” and “from” create different meanings that are not appropriate in this context. Recognising fixed expressions and collocations like “set of questions” helps you quickly identify the correct option.


Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the structure: “a set ______ questions” refers to a collection or group of questions. 2. Recall common collocations: “set of questions” is a well-known phrase in exams and education. 3. Evaluate each option: “set of questions”, “set off questions”, “set for questions”, “set from questions”. 4. Observe that only “set of questions” is a natural and grammatically standard phrase. 5. Choose “of” as the correct preposition to complete the expression.


Verification / Alternative check:
Insert the chosen preposition into the full sentence: “That means, if the checklist is framed as a set of questions, the answer to every question can only be a binary 'Yes' or 'No' and nothing in between.” This line reads smoothly and clearly expresses that the checklist consists of a series of individual questions. If you try the other options—“set off questions”, “set for questions”, “set from questions”—they either change the meaning entirely or sound ungrammatical. For example, “set off” is usually a phrasal verb meaning “to start a journey” or “to cause something to happen”, which does not fit the context at all.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• “off” makes “set off questions”, which is not a recognised phrase in this usage and normally functions as a verb rather than a noun phrase. • “for” would imply purpose, as in “set for questions”, but this does not match the idea of a collection of questions. • “from” indicates origin or separation and does not collocate with “set” in the sense of a group of items.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners overthink preposition choices and try to force unusual combinations to fit what they think is a deeper meaning. In many cases, however, the safest strategy is to recall common exam and textbook phrases: “a set of multiple-choice questions”, “a set of exercises”, and so on. Remember that English uses fixed patterns after certain head nouns; mastering these collocations is one of the easiest ways to improve your accuracy in cloze tests.


Final Answer:
The correct preposition is of, forming the natural phrase “a set of questions”.

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