Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1..............., we need to separate the budgetary issue from the legal one before anyone starts assigning blame.
Wrong!
"To begin with" opens the first point in an organised discussion; "After all" gives a reason for something already said.
2............... the data-retention clause, the lawyers have asked for a separate risk assessment.
Wrong!
"As regards" frames the topic to be discussed; "Given that" introduces a reason or condition and would not fit before the noun phrase here.
3..............., the apology is not an admission of liability, though it was a disastrous concession in negotiations.
Wrong!
"Strictly speaking" narrows the statement to a precise or technical frame; the cue is the legal contrast between an admission of liability and a poor concession.
4The prototype performed impressively in the lab; ..............., field conditions will be far less forgiving.
Wrong!
"That said" introduces a concession that qualifies the previous sentence; "In other words" would restate it, not contrast with it.
5............... the question you raised earlier, the trustees cannot approve the merger without a fresh valuation.
Wrong!
"To return to" brings the discussion back to an earlier topic; "On top of" means in addition to and does not fit this discourse move.
6The report is meticulously researched, legally cautious and politically unusable; ..............., it tells ministers everything except what they should do next.
Wrong!
"In short" introduces a concise summary; "By contrast" introduces a comparison with something different, which the sentence does not provide.
7..............., we can treat the two subsidiaries as a single reporting entity and ignore the historical ownership dispute.
Wrong!
"For present purposes" limits what counts for the current discussion; "At present" only means now and does not establish a scope for ignoring side issues.
8..............., I would rather delay the launch than ask the team to defend figures they no longer trust.
Wrong!
"For my part" frames the view as the speaker’s own position; "In theory" contrasts theory with practice and is not cued here.
9............... staff retention, the survey suggests that flexibility matters more than salary at this level.
Wrong!
"Turning to" shifts the discussion to a new topic; "Owing to" introduces a cause and cannot frame the agenda item here.
10..............., reviewers accepted the methodological compromise, although several wanted the limitation stated more prominently.
Wrong!
"On the whole" frames a broad overall judgement; "For instance" introduces an example, not a general conclusion.
11The consultant’s motives are open to debate; ..............., the funding gap remains unresolved.
Wrong!
"Be that as it may" concedes the previous point and returns to the main issue; "In the meantime" only marks simultaneous or intervening time.
12We should not outsource the archive; ..............., the vendor has never handled material this sensitive.
Wrong!
"For one thing" introduces the first reason in a set; "In any case" dismisses prior considerations or returns to a conclusion, not the first supporting point.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- To begin with , we need to separate the budgetary issue from the legal one before anyone starts assigning blame.
- As regards the data-retention clause, the lawyers have asked for a separate risk assessment.
- Strictly speaking , the apology is not an admission of liability, though it was a disastrous concession in negotiations.
- The prototype performed impressively in the lab; That said , field conditions will be far less forgiving.
- To return to the question you raised earlier, the trustees cannot approve the merger without a fresh valuation.
- The report is meticulously researched, legally cautious and politically unusable; In short , it tells ministers everything except what they should do next.
- For present purposes , we can treat the two subsidiaries as a single reporting entity and ignore the historical ownership dispute.
- For my part , I would rather delay the launch than ask the team to defend figures they no longer trust.
- Turning to staff retention, the survey suggests that flexibility matters more than salary at this level.
- On the whole , reviewers accepted the methodological compromise, although several wanted the limitation stated more prominently.
- The consultant’s motives are open to debate; Be that as it may , the funding gap remains unresolved.
- We should not outsource the archive; For one thing , the vendor has never handled material this sensitive.