Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. in.
Context: The second blank follows the phrase “occur ___ response,” so we need the correct preposition for this fixed expression. The expression “occur in response to” means “happen as a reaction to.” This fits the meaning here — phobias happen as a reaction to situations that are unlikely to cause harm.
Analysis of the given options:
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on – “occur on response” is incorrect; not a standard collocation.
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in – Correct; “occur in response to” is the standard phrase.
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of – “occur of response” is grammatically incorrect.
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at – “occur at response” is also incorrect and unnatural.
Correct word: in
Reason: “In response to” is a fixed and widely accepted phrase in English to indicate that something happens as a reaction to something else.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.