Choose the option that will replace the error highlighted in bold.
She could not support the temptation to open the letter and read it.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
Resist
Explanation
Meaning: The sentence describes a person's struggle with curiosity, where the urge to open and read a private letter was so overwhelming that she ultimately gave in to it. To solve this quickly for an exam, identify the specific collocation (words that naturally run together) used when dealing with the word "temptation." While verbs like 'bear', 'endure', and 'sustain' all deal with handling pressure, weight, or physical hardship, they do not match the psychological context of fighting an urge. The verb 'resist' specifically means to withstand the action or effect of an impulse or inducement. Therefore, "resist the temptation" is the correct idiomatic collocated phrase. Evaluating the incorrect options: 'Bear' and 'Endure' mean to tolerate pain or suffering, and 'Sustain' means to strengthen or support physically or mentally from collapsing. Therefore, Option 4 is the correct choice.
Key Points
Definition: Correcting lexical errors requires identifying standard word collocations, pairing noun objects with verbs that precisely match psychological or behavioral contexts.
Grammatical Role: Selecting a transitive verb that forms a standard idiomatic collocation with the noun "temptation."