Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1Before the tender deadline, it is ............... that the consortium align its public position with the pricing model.
Wrong!
"imperative" is correct because it expresses an urgent strategic necessity; "compulsory" means formally required by rule, which the sentence does not indicate.
2Given the client’s sensitivity to disruption, I ............... that we retain the existing interface for one more release cycle.
Wrong!
"recommend" is correct because a strategic proposal can take a that-clause with the bare subjunctive "retain"; "allow that we retain" does not express advice and is not natural here.
3In the board paper, we argue ............... delaying the launch until the regulator has clarified the reporting threshold.
Wrong!
"for" is correct because "argue for delaying" means recommend or support that course; "argue to delaying" is not a valid complementation pattern.
4With demand softening and supply still volatile, it would be ............... for us to expand capacity this quarter.
Wrong!
"ill-advised" is correct because the sentence warns against expanding under adverse conditions; "well-advised" would recommend the risky expansion.
5To avoid locking ourselves into a declining platform, we ............... treat the renewal as a bridge rather than a destination.
Wrong!
"would do well to" is correct because it gives prudent strategic advice; "might as well" suggests resignation or lack of a better option, which does not fit the serious risk cue.
6If the pilot data remain inconclusive, it would be ............... to commission an external review before scaling the programme.
Wrong!
"advisable" is correct because it can be followed by "to" plus an infinitive in an impersonal recommendation; "reluctant" would require a person or organisation as subject, not "it" in this structure.
7The strategy team can make a ............... for entering the market now, despite the short-term margin impact.
Wrong!
"case" is correct because "make a case for" means present a reasoned recommendation; "make a choice for" would mean select on someone’s behalf and does not fit the analytic context.
8Until the liability exposure is quantified, the investment committee should err ............... side of caution.
Wrong!
"on the" is correct because the fixed expression is "err on the side of caution"; "err in the side of caution" is not idiomatic.
9After consolidating the regional vendors, the firm would be ............... to negotiate service-level guarantees.
Wrong!
"better placed" is correct because it means strategically in a better position to act; "better placing" is not the adjectival form used with an organisation as subject here.
10The downside scenario now ............... revisiting the assumptions behind the five-year revenue forecast.
Wrong!
"warrants" is correct because it means the risk justifies revisiting the assumptions; "guarantees" would mean ensures the action, which is semantically wrong.
11Unless the acquirer improves the indemnities, we should advise the board ............... proceeding with the transaction.
Wrong!
"against" is correct because "advise against" means recommend not doing something; "advise from" does not form the required advisory pattern.
12Because the supply contract expires in March, it is not an ............... to defer the sourcing decision until next year.
Wrong!
"option" is correct because "not an option" rules out a course strategically; "not an invitation" concerns permission or encouragement, not feasibility.
Answers
- Before the tender deadline, it is imperative that the consortium align its public position with the pricing model.
- Given the client’s sensitivity to disruption, I recommend that we retain the existing interface for one more release cycle.
- In the board paper, we argue for delaying the launch until the regulator has clarified the reporting threshold.
- With demand softening and supply still volatile, it would be ill-advised for us to expand capacity this quarter.
- To avoid locking ourselves into a declining platform, we would do well to treat the renewal as a bridge rather than a destination.
- If the pilot data remain inconclusive, it would be advisable to commission an external review before scaling the programme.
- The strategy team can make a case for entering the market now, despite the short-term margin impact.
- Until the liability exposure is quantified, the investment committee should err on the side of caution.
- After consolidating the regional vendors, the firm would be better placed to negotiate service-level guarantees.
- The downside scenario now warrants revisiting the assumptions behind the five-year revenue forecast.
- Unless the acquirer improves the indemnities, we should advise the board against proceeding with the transaction.
- Because the supply contract expires in March, it is not an option to defer the sourcing decision until next year.
