Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1............... the revised policy creates extra costs, the committee still supports the project because the long-term benefits are substantial.
Wrong!
"Although" introduces a concession: the revised policy is an obstacle, but the committee still supports the project.
2The survey shows that clients value response time above price; ..............., we should invest first in customer support.
Wrong!
"therefore" signals that the recommendation follows logically from the evidence just given.
3The available data ............... that the pilot scheme reduced complaints, though the sample is too small for a firm conclusion.
Wrong!
"would suggest" fits because the evidence is being used cautiously to support a conclusion.
4The author ............... that the proposal is expensive; however, she argues that delaying action would cost even more.
Wrong!
"concedes" means the writer accepts a point that may weaken their case before defending the broader argument.
5Whether the spokesperson is popular is ...............; the issue is whether her evidence supports the claim.
Wrong!
"beside the point" means irrelevant to the argument being evaluated.
6............... is that the regulation may burden small firms, but phased implementation would reduce that risk.
Wrong!
"A possible objection" introduces a challenge that the writer immediately answers.
7............... the independent report, emissions fell by 18 percent after the new standards were introduced.
Wrong!
"According to" identifies the report as the source of the claim.
8The board rejected the amendment ............... it would make enforcement practically impossible.
Wrong!
"on the grounds that" introduces the reason for rejecting the amendment.
9The two plans are similar, but they differ ............... the second places liability on the manufacturer rather than the retailer.
Wrong!
"in that" specifies the respect in which the two plans differ.
10The technology is defensible ............... it is used under strict human supervision.
Wrong!
"insofar as" limits the claim to cases where the technology is properly supervised.
11The claim that remote work lowers productivity ............... the evidence; several studies report modest gains instead.
Wrong!
"is not borne out by" means the claim is not supported by the evidence.
12If the agency lacks both legal authority and adequate funding, ............... its promise to enforce the rule is not credible.
Wrong!
"it follows that" introduces a conclusion logically derived from the preceding reasoning.
Answers
- Although the revised policy creates extra costs, the committee still supports the project because the long-term benefits are substantial.
- The survey shows that clients value response time above price; therefore, we should invest first in customer support.
- The available data would suggest that the pilot scheme reduced complaints, though the sample is too small for a firm conclusion.
- The author concedes that the proposal is expensive; however, she argues that delaying action would cost even more.
- Whether the spokesperson is popular is beside the point; the issue is whether her evidence supports the claim.
- A possible objection is that the regulation may burden small firms, but phased implementation would reduce that risk.
- According to the independent report, emissions fell by 18 percent after the new standards were introduced.
- The board rejected the amendment on the grounds that it would make enforcement practically impossible.
- The two plans are similar, but they differ in that the second places liability on the manufacturer rather than the retailer.
- The technology is defensible insofar as it is used under strict human supervision.
- The claim that remote work lowers productivity is not borne out by the evidence; several studies report modest gains instead.
- If the agency lacks both legal authority and adequate funding, it follows that its promise to enforce the rule is not credible.