Question

Choose the most appropriate preposition:
People were alarmed ______ the tiger.
a) by
b) at
c) on
d) for

Answer 1

Hint: A preposition is a function word that combines with a noun or pronoun or noun phrase to form a prepositional phrase that can have an adverbial or adjectival relation to some other word.

Complete answer:
In the given question, we have to identify which preposition in the given options would correctly describe how the people were alarmed due to the presence of the tiger.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'by', refers to ‘indicates the cause of a condition or event through the action of, caused by, responsibility for; by dint of.’
Therefore, option (a.) is correct as it correctly describes how the cause of people’s state of being alarmed was the tiger.
Option (b.), ‘at', refers to ‘in or very near a particular place.’
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as it does not describe how the cause of people’s state of being alarmed was the tiger.
Option (c.), ‘on', refers to ‘positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.’
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as it does not describe how the cause of people’s state of being alarmed was the tiger.
Option (d.), ‘for', refers to ‘directed at, intended to belong to.’
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as it does not describe how the cause of people’s state of being alarmed was the tiger.

Note: In this question, it would be useful for the student to recall what a preposition for an agent is. It is used for a thing which is the cause of another in the same sentence. For example- by, with.
‘This book is written by Shakespeare.’