In this passage about democracy and dictatorship, choose the verb that best completes the phrase: “rise to power and _______ a new regime with dramatic success … ”

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: establish

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This cloze question focuses on the verb that best describes what dictators do after they rise to power. The passage says that dictators may rise quickly and then create something new in the political structure of a country. The correct verb must combine naturally with “a new regime” and match the formal, political tone of the passage.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    1) The relevant clause reads: “dictators may rise to power and _______ a new regime with dramatic success”.
    2) The options are: restart, establish, enter, define.
    3) The noun that follows is “a new regime”.
    4) The context is about dictators taking power and creating a government of their own design.
    5) The verb must express the idea of setting up or creating this regime.


Concept / Approach:
In political writing, we typically talk about leaders “establishing” a regime, government or system. The verb “establish” means to set up or found something on a firm or permanent basis. Words like “restart”, “enter” or “define” do not fit properly with “a new regime” in this context. Therefore, we must choose the verb that best conveys the act of creating a new government structure.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the object “a new regime”; the verb must be something we can logically do to a regime. Step 2: Test “restart”: “restart a new regime” is awkward; you restart something that already exists, not something that is “new”. Step 3: Test “establish”: “establish a new regime” is a common and precise phrase meaning to found or set up a government. Step 4: Test “enter”: “enter a new regime” would mean joining a regime that is already there, not creating it. Step 5: Test “define”: “define a new regime” would mean to describe it, not to bring it into existence. Step 6: Therefore “establish” is the only option that correctly expresses the intended political action.


Verification / Alternative check:
Insert “establish” into the full sentence: “whereas dictators may rise to power and establish a new regime with dramatic success, under peculiar conditions.” The sentence now perfectly describes the process of gaining control and creating a new governmental system. Replacing “establish” with any other option either distorts the meaning or makes the phrase ungrammatical.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“restart” is inappropriate because a “new regime” is being created, not restarted. “enter” suggests moving into something already existing, which contradicts “new regime”. “define” focuses on giving a description, not on building or founding a system of government.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes pick “restart” or “enter” because they sound dynamic, but they fail to think carefully about what those verbs actually mean with “regime”. Another common mistake is choosing “define” due to its academic tone, forgetting that the passage describes concrete political actions, not theoretical descriptions. Always imagine the real world action implied: what does a dictator actually do after gaining power? He or she sets up a regime, that is, “establishes” it.


Final Answer:
The verb that correctly completes the sentence is establish.

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