Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition in the following sentence: ____ the two, I prefer tea.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests correct use of basic prepositions in a very common comparative structure. Even though words like “of”, “between”, “among” and “from” look easy, each of them is used in specific patterns. Competitive exams often check whether a candidate knows the exact phrase used when choosing one thing out of two.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The sentence is: “____ the two, I prefer tea.”
- The speaker is clearly choosing one item (tea) out of exactly two options.
- No other context is given, so the answer must rely on standard English usage.

Concept / Approach:
There are two important patterns that students confuse:
- “Of the two, I prefer X.”
- “Between X and Y, I prefer Z.”
When “two” is used as a noun (“the two”), the fixed phrase is “of the two”. When we name the two alternatives explicitly, we use “between”. Therefore, the correct preposition before “the two” is “of”, not “between”, “among” or “from”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify what “the two” refers to. It represents two options, for example coffee and tea. Step 2: Recall common English sentences. We say “Of the two, I prefer tea” and “Between tea and coffee, I prefer tea”. Step 3: Check each option in the sentence: - “Of the two, I prefer tea.” sounds natural and correct. - “Between the two, I prefer tea.” is heard in informal speech but is not the standard textbook pattern with the noun “the two”. - “Among the two, I prefer tea.” is wrong because “among” is used for more than two items. - “From the two, I prefer tea.” is unnatural in modern English. Step 4: Select the option that matches the standard comparative expression.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try to convert the sentence into the second pattern: “Between tea and coffee, I prefer tea.” This confirms that when we use the pronoun phrase “the two” instead of listing the items, we switch the preposition to “of”. The meaning of the sentence is now crisp and idiomatic.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- “Between”: Correct with explicit items (“between tea and coffee”), but not the best choice with “the two” as a standalone phrase in formal usage.
- “Among”: Used for three or more items, so it conflicts with the idea of only two choices.
- “From”: Usually used when selecting from a group as in “choose from the menu”, but “from the two” is not the standard idiomatic pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often overuse “between” whenever they see the number two, without checking the complete phrase. Others confuse “between” and “among” and treat them as interchangeable. Always remember: “between A and B” but “of the two”. Keeping these two templates in mind will prevent most mistakes.

Final Answer:
The correct preposition is “Of”, giving the natural sentence: “Of the two, I prefer tea.”