play vs control

[Rosi]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #85 "Simple Present (2)", question 7

The next participant in this village drama is the weather, which ......... a very significant part in English life.

(a) holds
(b) manages
(c) plays
(d) controls

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #85 "Simple Present (2)", answer 7

The next participant in this village drama is the weather, which plays a very significant part in English life.

Correct answer: (c) plays

Your answer was: incorrect
The next participant in this village drama is the weather, which controls a very significant part in English life.
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"Plays" sounds dramatic to me while "controls" is more to one direction which in this case means weather controls life and no one can negotiate it.

Rosi

[Mister Micawber]

.
Hi Rosi. And indeed it should sound dramatic-- 'play' is a part of the idiomatic 'to play a part in', which comes from the context of drama (='to play a role in') and means 'have an effect on', 'participate in'. While we may be interested in the effect of the weather on English village life, we do not need to be told here that no one can control it; that is a given.
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber