The bird wings correspond a man's hands.

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2024

Explanation

The first blank requires the preposition 'of' to indicate possession, signifying that the wings belong to the bird.
The verb 'correspond' is a fixed phrasal verb that pairs with the preposition 'to' when making a comparison or showing an analogy.
The sentence compares the function or structure of a bird's wings to that of a man's hands, making 'correspond to' the correct grammatical choice.

Option B: The preposition 'at' is incorrect. The phrasal verb is 'correspond to', not 'correspond at', when drawing a comparison.
Option C: This reverses the correct prepositions. 'To' cannot be used to show possession in the first blank, and 'of' is not the correct preposition to follow 'correspond' in this context.
Option D: Both prepositions are incorrect for their respective blanks. 'At' does not show possession, and 'of' does not correctly follow 'correspond' to show analogy.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain English Grammar: Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proficiency in English grammar is essential for nursing professionals for clear and accurate communication with patients, colleagues, and in documentation.
Many nursing entrance and recruitment exams include an English language section to assess communication skills, where knowledge of prepositions is frequently tested.
What if the sentence was about communication? The verb 'correspond' can also mean to communicate by letter. In that case, the preposition would be 'with' (e.g., 'She corresponded with her friend in London.'). Understanding context is key to choosing the correct preposition.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the relationship between 'bird' and 'wings'. Recognize it as a possessive relationship, which points to the preposition 'of'.
Next, focus on the verb 'correspond'. Identify the context, which is an analogy or comparison between two things.
Recall or deduce the fixed preposition that follows 'correspond' in this context. The correct phrasal verb is 'correspond to'.
Eliminate options that do not use 'of' for the first blank and 'to' for the second blank.
Select the option that correctly fills both blanks based on grammatical rules.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QjHyhP8yI-oM0CIbNCO-p7

Practise the full SGPGI Nursing Officer-2024

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