Introduction / Context:
This question checks knowledge of standard English collocations. The phrase “pose a challenge” is a very common expression in formal writing. The learner must choose the verb that naturally and idiomatically completes “might ______ a challenge” in an official health statement. Other given verbs may be grammatically possible in other contexts but do not form the accepted collocation here.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence: “Therefore, we are vigilant, as coming months might ____________ a challenge.”
- Options: “show”, “pose”, “throw”, “put up”.
- Speaker: a doctor or health official explaining possible future difficulties.
Concept / Approach:
The common collocation in English is “pose a challenge” or “pose a threat”. This means “to present or create a challenge”. The verbs “show”, “throw”, and “put up” do not collocate naturally with “a challenge” in this formal context. Recognising typical verb–noun combinations is an important vocabulary skill tested in such questions.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall typical collocations with “challenge”: “face a challenge”, “rise to a challenge”, “pose a challenge”.
Step 2: Insert each option into the blank: “show a challenge”, “pose a challenge”, “throw a challenge”, “put up a challenge”.
Step 3: “Pose a challenge” is widely used and accepted in formal writing, meaning “to create or present a difficult situation”.
Step 4: “Show a challenge” sounds awkward; we show problems or show courage, but not “show a challenge” in this sense.
Step 5: “Throw a challenge” appears in phrases like “throw a challenge at someone”, but that is a different structure, and it still sounds less formal.
Step 6: “Put up a challenge” is used in “put up a good challenge” or “put up a fight”, but the pattern “months might put up a challenge” is weak and non-standard.
Verification / Alternative check:
Use “pose”: “coming months might pose a challenge”. This is a standard and natural-sounding sentence for news or official communications.
Try reading the entire passage aloud with “pose”; it flows smoothly and fits the formal tone.
The other verbs make the sentence sound unidiomatic or incorrect, confirming “pose” as the correct choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (show): “Show a challenge” does not carry the meaning “create a difficult situation” and is not a recognised collocation in this context.
Option C (throw): Usually appears in phrasal structures (“throw a challenge at someone”), and does not suit “coming months might throw a challenge” in formal health reporting.
Option D (put up): More common with “put up a fight” or “put up resistance”. It is not the typical verb used with “a challenge” in this pattern.
Common Pitfalls:
Students may try to rely purely on literal meanings, without considering accepted combinations of words.
Some may overgeneralise from other expressions like “put up a fight” and incorrectly extend them to “put up a challenge”.
Another mistake is ignoring tone; exam passages often imitate newspaper or official style, where “pose a challenge” is standard.
Final Answer:
The correct verb is “pose”, giving “coming months might pose a challenge.”
Discussion & Comments