They arrived ____ the airport after a long flight.

They arrived ____ the airport after a long flight.

• A. At
• B. In
• C. To
• D. On

Answer: (A)

This item tests which preposition to use after arrive to express reaching a destination. The natural choice is at because airports are treated as specific places you reach. They arrived at the airport after a long flight. Using in would imply being inside the airport, which isn’t the focus of reaching the location. To would be used when directing toward a destination, but for the moment of arrival we use at. On is for surfaces or means of transport, not for destinations. With places like buildings, stations, and airports, arrive at is the usual collocation: you arrive at the airport, at the station, at the hotel, etc. If you were talking about entering a large area like a city or country, you’d say you arrived in.

This item tests which preposition to use after arrive to express reaching a destination. The natural choice is at because airports are treated as specific places you reach. They arrived at the airport after a long flight. Using in would imply being inside the airport, which isn’t the focus of reaching the location. To would be used when directing toward a destination, but for the moment of arrival we use at. On is for surfaces or means of transport, not for destinations. With places like buildings, stations, and airports, arrive at is the usual collocation: you arrive at the airport, at the station, at the hotel, etc. If you were talking about entering a large area like a city or country, you’d say you arrived in.