Question:medium

Choose the correct option out of the four choices given.
Nobody in our group is a genius ________ winning friends and in convincing people.

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Read past the blank. The second half of the sentence already says "and in convincing people", and joined phrases must match.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
  • for
  • in
  • of
  • at
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
One blank sits before "winning friends", and a second phrase, "in convincing people", is already printed after the "and". So the sentence gives away half of its own structure, and that half decides the answer.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Apply parallel structure. When two or more items are joined by a coordinating conjunction such as "and", they must take the same grammatical form. If the second item is a prepositional phrase starting with "in", the first must start with "in" too. This rule outranks the question of which preposition sounds nicest with "genius" in isolation.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Mark the two joined items. Item one is "____ winning friends". Item two is "in convincing people".
Both items are prepositional phrases built on a gerund, and both describe the same skill set. So their openings must match.
Filling the blank with "in" gives "in winning friends and in convincing people". The pattern is now in plus gerund on both sides, which is balanced.
Filling it with "at" gives "at winning friends and in convincing people". Even though "a genius at" is common on its own, the mismatched pair reads badly and breaks the rule.
Filling it with "for" causes the same mismatch, and "a genius for" tends to suit a natural knack rather than a paired list like this.
Filling it with "of" is worse still, since "the genius of" names the defining spirit of a place or period and does not introduce an activity.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The printed "in convincing people" forces a matching "in" in the blank. The answer is option (B), in.
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