The government’s implementation of a new code of ethics appeared intended to shore up the ruling party’s standing with an increasingly _________ electorate at a time when the party is besieged by charges that it trades favors for campaign money.
[Official Guide]
A. aloof
B. placid
C. restive
D. skittish
E. tranquil
F. vociferous
I can not find out the meaning of the “with”. does it mean that “against with” or " used for stating what causes someone or something to be in a particular state"?
“the ruling party’s standing” means the extent to which people trust it, believe in it, support it, and so on.
“the ruling party’s standing with an increasingly ___ electorate” means the extent to which the increasingly ___ electorate trusts it, believes in it, etc.
There’s a lot going on here. I’ll try to help you break it down. Breaking out the “with” prepositional clause should help with its meaning. I like to put prepositional clauses in <> brackets. Also, “appeared intended to” can be removed from the clause to help.
~subject~ The government’s implementation of a new code of ethics ~end_subject~
~verb~ shore(d) up ~end_verb~
~predicate~ the ruling party’s standing
~preposition~~end_preposition~
~preposition~ ~end_preposition~
~end_predicate~
Here “with” is used as a function word to indicate the object of attention. For example: “I am angry with him.” “He is pleased with his meal.”
[quote=“Wal615”]
The government’s implementation of a new code of ethics appeared intended to shore up the ruling party’s standing with an increasingly restive_____ electorate.
IMHO, “with an increasingly restive electorate” is a prepositional phrase that modifies “standing.”
Q: With whom does the government wish to shore up its standing?