The seminar was held under the … of the Government

Analyze the question The sentence is "The seminar was held under the ........... of the Government." We need a noun that fits the idiom "under the ___ of," which describes who sponsors or supports an event.

Explain the concept In English, some phrases are fixed collocations. "Under the auspices of" is one of them. It means with the support, sponsorship, or patronage of someone or some organisation.

Check each option

• A. jurisdiction: This means legal or official authority over an area. "Under the jurisdiction of" is a real phrase, but it is used for areas or cases, such as "The town is under the jurisdiction of the local council." It does not suit a seminar being organised.
• B. arbitration: This is the settling of a dispute by a neutral party. "Under arbitration" does not fit the context.
• C. agreement: "Under the agreement of" is not an idiomatic phrase. You would say "by agreement" or "under an agreement with."
• D. auspices: "Under the auspices of the Government" means the Government sponsored or supported the seminar. This fits perfectly.

Answer The correct answer is D. auspices.

Tip Memorize "under the auspices of" for events such as seminars, conferences, and workshops. Whenever you see an event "held under the ___ of" an organisation, think of auspices. Use "jurisdiction" only when talking about legal or administrative authority over a place or matter.