Introduction / Context:
This question is based on a cloze passage about public health and seasonal flu (H1N1). The missing word describes the weather conditions that may influence the activity of the virus. The learner must choose the option that fits both meaning and formal newspaper-style English, rather than relying only on literal dictionary meanings.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence: “In view of last year's H1N1 attack and prevailing ____________ weather conditions, the health department officials expect that the virus will turn more active by January end.”
- Options: “erratic”, “weird”, “dicey”, “unstable”.
- Context: news reporting, formal tone, discussion of seasonal or climatic patterns that influence disease transmission.
- We assume the passage comes from a standard English news article.
Concept / Approach:
The main concept is vocabulary in context. The correct word must collocate naturally with “weather conditions” and sound appropriate in a formal health report. “Erratic weather conditions” is a common collocation in newspapers, meaning that the weather is unpredictable or variable. Other options either sound informal, colloquial, or unnatural when paired with “weather conditions”. Choosing correctly depends on knowledge of common English collocations and register (formal vs informal usage).
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine each option with the phrase “weather conditions”.
Step 2: “Erratic weather conditions” is a very common phrase meaning irregular or unpredictable weather, which can easily affect disease spread.
Step 3: “Weird weather conditions” sounds informal and journalistic in a casual way, not typical of formal health department language.
Step 4: “Dicey weather conditions” is slang-like; “dicey” means risky or uncertain, but it does not usually collocate with “weather conditions” in serious news writing.
Step 5: “Unstable weather conditions” is possible, but “unstable” is more often used for political situations or markets; “erratic” is the more standard adjective in this specific context.
Step 6: Therefore, “erratic” best fits both meaning and style, giving “prevailing erratic weather conditions”.
Verification / Alternative check:
Re-read the whole sentence with the chosen word: “In view of last year's H1N1 attack and prevailing erratic weather conditions, the health department officials expect that the virus will turn more active by January end.”
The sentence now sounds like authentic newspaper English: logical, formal, and idiomatic.
Replacing “erratic” with any other option either makes the tone too casual or the collocation unnatural, confirming that “erratic” is the best choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (weird): “Weird weather conditions” sounds conversational and does not suit the serious, technical tone of a health department statement.
Option C (dicey): “Dicey” is colloquial and suggests risk rather than irregularity; it rarely collocates with “weather conditions” in formal writing.
Option D (unstable): While “unstable weather” could be understood, the standard and frequent expression in news-style English is “erratic weather conditions”, making “unstable” less appropriate.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners may focus only on dictionary meanings and ignore the formal register of the passage.
Some may choose “unstable” simply because it seems technical, without checking real-life usage patterns.
Others may be tempted by “weird” or “dicey” because they sound dramatic, but exam passages usually prefer neutral, formal vocabulary.
Final Answer:
The blank should be filled with “erratic”, giving the phrase “prevailing erratic weather conditions”.
Discussion & Comments