A part of the following sentence is underlined. Choose the option that can replace the underlined part to improve the sentence. In case Options A, B and C are not found suitable, choose Option D: "No Improvement Required."
The healthcare sector is fraught with numerous challenges ranging from inadequate funding to shortage of trained staff.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
No improvement required
Explanation
The original sentence is completely correct as written. The word "fraught" is an adjective that means filled or burdened with something undesirable or problematic. In the English language, this word forms a strict fixed prepositional collocation and must always be followed by the preposition "with". Therefore, the phrase "fraught with numerous challenges" is grammatically accurate and idiomatically precise.
The alternative options are incorrect because they swap out the required preposition with inappropriate substitutes. "Fraught in", "fraught of", and "fraught by" violate the structural rules of English collocations and are grammatically invalid. Because none of these choices offer an actual improvement to the original phrasing, the correct selection is the fourth option.
Key Points
When preparing for competitive English sections, pay close attention to fixed dependent prepositions that attach to specific adjectives. Just like you say "interested in", "afraid of", or "capable of", the adjective "fraught" is permanently tied to "with" whenever it describes being full of risks, dangers, or problems.