Choose the verb that completes the metaphorical phrase meaning to create conditions for future success:

The development of stable mRNA delivery mechanisms helped ________ the way for accelerated vaccine synthesis during the global pandemic.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. pave

Answer: pave. Why not the others: 'clear the way' exists but takes 'for' with the sense of physically removing obstacles rather than establishing an innovative foundation; 'make the way' and 'lead the way' do not match this construction.
  1. Step 1: Identify the established idiom: making progress easier or facilitating subsequent advancements is conveyed by 'pave the way for'.
  2. Step 2: The standard verb is 'pave'.

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