In the War and Peace passage, choose the correct word to complete the clause "War and Peace is _____ concerned with the histories of five aristocratic families".

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: primarily

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The passage now explains the main focus of War and Peace. It states that the novel is blank concerned with the histories of five aristocratic families. The adverb must indicate that this is the main focus, though there may be other elements like war scenes. The question checks knowledge of adverbs used to show the principal subject or main emphasis of a work.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence expresses what War and Peace is mainly about.
  • We need an adverb that goes before concerned.
  • Options are importantly, primarily, heavily, connectively, largely.
  • The passage is formal and analytical in tone.


Concept / Approach:
When critics discuss the main focus of a book, they often write that it is primarily concerned with a certain topic. Primarily means mainly or chiefly. It fits naturally before concerned. Our task is to select the adverb that conveys this idea of main emphasis and collocates smoothly with concerned. We test each option and examine whether the resulting phrase sounds natural and expresses the intended meaning.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Try importantly concerned. This is not a standard collocation; importantly usually modifies whole sentences, not concerned directly. Step 2: Try primarily concerned. This is a very common expression meaning mainly focused on. Step 3: Try heavily concerned. This sounds awkward and informal and does not clearly convey main subject matter. Step 4: Try connectively concerned. Connectively is rare and does not make sense in this context. Step 5: Try largely concerned. Although somewhat possible, the original exam passage traditionally uses primarily concerned. Step 6: Conclude that primarily is the best and most idiomatic choice for a serious description.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by recalling similar sentences: The book is primarily concerned with social justice or The article is primarily concerned with economic policy. These are standard usages. Largely concerned would be acceptable, but primarily concerned is stronger and more precise in signalling the main focus. The exam passage in many known versions of this text also uses primarily, so this choice is consistent with real exam materials.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Importantly: Usually used in structures like more importantly, it rarely modifies concerned in this direct way. Heavily: Heavily concerned sounds odd and may suggest emotional weight, which is not the point here. Connectively: This adverb is almost never used in everyday or academic English and does not fit the context. Largely: While not completely wrong in general English, it is less precise and not the conventional wording in this well known passage. Primarily clearly signals main focus and matches critical style.


Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted by importantly because they feel the novel is important. However, they must focus on collocation rather than emotional feeling. Another mistake is to think heavily simply intensifies concerned, but such an expression is not normally used in literary discussion. Recognising fixed academic patterns like primarily concerned with is very useful for solving such questions accurately.


Final Answer:
The correct answer is primarily, giving the phrase War and Peace is primarily concerned with the histories of five aristocratic families.

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