He gave a talk — the causes of dengue fever.

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Explanation

The preposition 'on' is correctly used to introduce the subject or topic of a formal discussion, lecture, or written piece.
The standard grammatical structure is 'a talk on [topic]' or 'a lecture on [topic]'.
In this sentence, 'the causes of dengue fever' is the topic of the talk, making 'on' the appropriate choice.

Option A: Indicates separation or disconnection, not a topic.
Option C: Indicates possession or origin, which does not fit the context of introducing a presentation's subject.
Option D: Indicates purpose or a recipient, not the subject matter.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain English Grammar: Prepositions of Subject Matter as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In healthcare, precise language is crucial for patient safety. Misusing prepositions in patient education, documentation, or clinical handovers can lead to confusion and errors.
For example, telling a patient to take medication 'for' food versus 'with' food has significantly different clinical implications and instructions.
What if? If the sentence was about the reason for the talk, 'for' might be correct. For example, 'He gave a talk for the purpose of raising awareness about dengue fever'.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the sentence structure: 'He gave a talk — [topic]'.
Identify the function of the missing word. It needs to be a preposition that links the action ('gave a talk') with its subject matter ('the causes of dengue fever').
Recall common English collocations (words that frequently go together). The phrase 'a talk on a topic' is a standard collocation.
Test each option. 'A talk on the causes...' fits the standard pattern. The other options create grammatically incorrect or nonsensical phrases in this context.
Select the option that forms the most natural and grammatically correct sentence.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.