Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1Despite ..............., the committee persuaded several agencies to adopt its recommendations.
Wrong!
After "despite", use a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so "having no formal mandate" is correct.
2The launch was postponed because of ............... .
Wrong!
"Because of" must be followed by a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so "the supplier's failing to meet the deadline" is correct.
3In spite of ..............., thousands of spectators stayed until the final performance.
Wrong!
"In spite of" takes a noun phrase, not a finite clause; "the forecast predicting heavy rain" is the correct noun-phrase form.
4Owing to ..............., the analysts could not reproduce the figures in the report.
Wrong!
"Owing to" is followed by a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so "the database having been corrupted" is correct.
5The project cannot proceed without ............... .
Wrong!
After "without", use a noun phrase or gerund phrase; "the board's approving the revised budget" is correct.
6The inquiry was reopened on account of ............... .
Wrong!
"On account of" requires a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so "several witnesses withdrawing their statements" is correct.
7The research team released only a brief methodological note before ............... .
Wrong!
In this compressed form, "before" is followed by a noun phrase; "publication of the final results" is correct.
8Access to the laboratory will be restored after ............... .
Wrong!
For a noun-phrase paraphrase after the preposition "after", use "completion of the safety inspection".
9Several regional editions were discontinued as a result of ............... .
Wrong!
"As a result of" is followed by a noun phrase, so "a sharp decline in advertising revenue" is correct.
10The minister resigned following ............... .
Wrong!
Prepositional "following" takes a noun phrase; "disclosure of the internal emails" is correct.
11The model should not be deployed regardless of ............... .
Wrong!
"Regardless of" must be followed by a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so "the data's being incomplete" is correct.
12Instead of ..............., the agency announced the relocation plan without warning.
Wrong!
"Instead of" is followed by a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so "consulting the affected communities" is correct.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Despite having no formal mandate, the committee persuaded several agencies to adopt its recommendations.
- The launch was postponed because of the supplier’s failing to meet the deadline.
- In spite of the forecast predicting heavy rain, thousands of spectators stayed until the final performance.
- Owing to the database having been corrupted, the analysts could not reproduce the figures in the report.
- The project cannot proceed without the board’s approving the revised budget.
- The inquiry was reopened on account of several witnesses withdrawing their statements.
- The research team released only a brief methodological note before publication of the final results.
- Access to the laboratory will be restored after completion of the safety inspection.
- Several regional editions were discontinued as a result of a sharp decline in advertising revenue.
- The minister resigned following disclosure of the internal emails.
- The model should not be deployed regardless of the data’s being incomplete.
- Instead of consulting the affected communities, the agency announced the relocation plan without warning.
