In this passage about democracy and dictatorship, choose the verb that best completes the blank: “whereas dictators may _____ to power … ”

Introduction / Context:
This cloze question examines your knowledge of common political collocations. The passage contrasts slow democratic development with the rapid success of dictators. In English political discourse, there is a standard phrase “rise to power” used to describe how leaders, especially dictators, come to control a state.

Given Data / Assumptions:

1) The relevant clause is “whereas dictators may _____ to power and establish a new regime with dramatic success”.
2) The options are: rise, jump, grow, succeed.
3) The object “to power” follows the blank.
4) The passage emphasises the dramatic, rapid success of dictators compared to democracy’s slow growth.
5) We must choose the verb that naturally goes with “to power”.

Concept / Approach:
Certain combinations like “rise to power”, “come to power” and “seize power” are fixed collocations in English. The verb “rise” is particularly common in descriptions of dictators and political leaders. “Jump to power”, “grow to power” or “succeed to power” are unusual or wrong. The correct answer is therefore the verb that forms a recognised phrase with “to power”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look at the words immediately after the blank: “to power”. This strongly hints at the expression “rise to power”. Step 2: Test “rise”: “dictators may rise to power” is a standard, widely used phrase in historical and political writing. Step 3: Test “jump”: “dictators may jump to power” sounds informal and unnatural; “jump” is not idiomatic here. Step 4: Test “grow”: “dictators may grow to power” is not a recognised phrase; we can say “grow in power”, but “grow to power” is wrong. Step 5: Test “succeed”: “dictators may succeed to power” is grammatically possible in a narrow legal sense (as in “succeed to the throne”), but it is not the common idiom used in such general political commentary. Step 6: Therefore “rise” is the only option that matches the standard collocation and tone of the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the relevant part of the passage with “rise”: “whereas dictators may rise to power and establish a new regime with dramatic success, under peculiar conditions.” This sentence flows naturally and sounds like typical textbook language. Any other option makes the phrase sound odd or overly technical, which is inconsistent with the style of the rest of the passage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“jump” is too colloquial and does not form a standard phrase with “to power” in formal English. “grow” might combine with “in power” but not with “to power”, making it incorrect here. “succeed” is used in phrases like “succeed someone” or “succeed to the throne”, but is not the most natural choice for a broad, general statement about dictators in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners overthink and choose “succeed” because dictators are successful, but they miss the specific idiom “rise to power”. Others may pick “grow” due to the earlier mention of democracy as a slow “growth”, not realising that the author is now deliberately switching imagery to highlight the sudden “rise” of dictators. Always pay attention to fixed expressions that you have seen in reading; they are your best guide in cloze tests.

Final Answer:
The verb that correctly completes the phrase is rise.