In the following passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank from the four alternatives. The preacher challenged hundreds of thousands of young people who gathered in a __________ Polish meadow to reject being a "____________" who retreats into video games and computer screens and instead engage in social activism and politics to create a more just world. __________ his speech with ______________, the seventy nine year old pope, despite a long day of public appearances, addressed his eager audience with enthusiasm yesterday on a warm summer night. Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase "__________ his speech with".

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Peppering

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question comes from a passage that describes how the pope spoke to a large gathering of young people. The sentence focuses on his speaking style and the way he mixed certain types of expressions into his address. The blank is part of the phrase "__________ his speech with", so we must choose the verb that naturally collocates with "speech" and the idea of adding many small elements into it.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The pope is addressing young people in an open meadow.
  • The writer wants to describe how he added certain words or phrases to his speech.
  • The pattern is "__________ his speech with __________".
  • The options are Showering, Endowing, Glorifying, Peppering.


Concept / Approach:
In English, we often use the expression "to pepper a speech with" something, meaning to scatter many small references, jokes or remarks throughout the speech. This matches the image of inserting contemporary expressions or jokes here and there. The correct approach is to check which verb is actually used with "speech" in this pattern and which one maintains the meaning of adding many little elements inside a longer talk.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the structure "__________ his speech with". The missing word must be a verb in the present participle form ending in ing. Step 2: Consider the meaning. The pope is likely using modern phrases or informal expressions to connect with youngsters. These expressions are scattered through the speech. Step 3: Recall that "peppering his speech with contemporary lingo" is a standard journalistic phrase meaning he sprinkled modern expressions through his talk. Step 4: Examine "Showering his speech with". We usually shower people with praise or gifts, not a speech with something. Step 5: Examine "Endowing his speech with". To endow usually means to provide something valuable in a more permanent way, and it is not common in this structure. Step 6: Examine "Glorifying his speech with". This is not idiomatic. One glorifies a person or action, not a speech, in this way. Step 7: Conclude that "Peppering his speech with" is the only natural and well known phrase.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can check your understanding by thinking of similar expressions such as "peppered his conversation with jokes" or "the article is peppered with statistics". These examples confirm that peppered with is the normal collocation for adding small scattered items throughout something. No such common collocation exists for the other verbs given in the options.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Showering: We say "showered her with gifts" or "showered them with praise", not "showered his speech with". The object is usually a person, not the speech.
  • Endowing: Endow is used for long term features or funds such as "endow a chair", and it does not fit the idea of scattering small elements in a speech.
  • Glorifying: One glorifies a person, a war, or a deed, not a speech in the sense of mixing casual expressions into it.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus only on the positive meaning of the verb and ignore usage patterns. "Showering" and "endowing" sound impressive, so some candidates mark them without thinking about whether they are ever used with "speech" in this grammatical form. Always check how verbs behave with common objects and prepositions, because competitive exams frequently test collocations like this.


Final Answer:
The correct verb to complete the phrase is Peppering.

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