Question 1
His scheme, with all its shortcomings, will inevitably be pushed through _____, by Tuesday, we can produce one which is obviously much more feasible.
Unless means 'if not' or 'except if'. The scheme will be pushed through *if we do not produce a better one by Tuesday. Not in case, which means 'as a precaution against something happening' and does not fit this condition. So that expresses purpose, and moreover* adds information, so neither links the two ideas logically.
Question 2
_____ he gives the appearance of sincerity and reliability, just remember that you can’t trust him an inch.
Though (= although) introduces a concessive clause. It contrasts how he appears (sincere and reliable) with the reality (you can't trust him an inch). Not Nevertheless: it is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it cannot join a subordinate clause to the main clause.
Question 3
On that occasion, he really was _____ luck: it was as if everything had combined _____ him.
Out of luck is a fixed expression meaning 'unlucky; without good fortune'. Combine against someone means 'work together to someone's disadvantage'. The second clause explains the first: everything worked against him, so he had no luck.
Question 4
Few sociologists will admit that a city is distinct _____ a village merely _____ the number of its inhabitants.
The adjective distinct takes the preposition from: distinct from a village. By expresses the criterion or means of distinguishing: merely by the number of its inhabitants. Not of: we say distinct from, never distinct of.
Question 5
Water has a moderating effect on temperature, _____ summer and midday heat, and winter and midnight cold.
The active present participle diminishing introduces a clause that explains the result of the main clause: water moderates temperature, and in doing so it diminishes (reduces) heat and cold. Water is the doer, so a passive form such as being diminished or diminished is wrong. Having diminished would wrongly suggest the reduction happened before the moderating effect.
Question 6
When that happened, their hopes _____ because the army _____ its most trusted leaders.
When that happened sets the story in the past, so the main verb is past simple: waned (= became weaker). The army's loss of its leaders happened earlier and caused the hopes to wane, so it takes the past perfect: had lost.
Question 7
They _____ the advantages and the disadvantages of the takeover when I _____ them an hour or so later.
The past continuous were discussing describes an action already in progress when a shorter past action, rejoined (past simple), happened. The time clue an hour or so later shows that both actions are in the past.
Question 8
We still _____ that any changes in the law along these lines _____ to our advantage.
Still shows a belief held now, so we use the present simple with a stative verb: believe. The changes in the law lie in the future, so the reported prediction takes will be. Not have believed / would be: still with a present-time belief needs the present simple, and would would need a past reporting verb.
Question 9
In calculators, calculations _____ entirely with integers yield exact results as long as the numbers _____ too big for the space allotted.
Done is a reduced passive relative clause: calculations (which are) done entirely with integers. The calculations do not perform the action, so the active form doing is wrong. After as long as, which states a condition about a general truth, we use the present simple: are not.
Question 10
Twenty years ago, the study of ageing _____ as somewhat misdirected, but now it _____ into an important science.
Twenty years ago is a finished past time, so we need the past simple passive: was regarded. But now shows a change that has a result in the present, so we use the present perfect: has developed. Not was being regarded: regard is used statively here, and the continuous form sounds unnatural.
Question 11
In some ways, we know little more about the planets than _____ the ancients who worshipped them.
After than, the auxiliary can come before the subject in formal comparisons: than did the ancients = than the ancients did. The ancients lived in the past, so the past simple auxiliary did is needed. Not had done: there is no earlier past point to which the past perfect could refer.
Question 12
The first stage of the new factory project _____ last year, and work on the second phase _____ well now.
Last year is a finished past time, so we need the past simple passive: was completed. Now shows an action happening at present, so we use the present continuous: is progressing (= developing). Not has been completed: the present perfect cannot be used with a finished time expression such as last year.
Question 13
While the battle for market share _____ out in the open, the technological capability of the larger companies _____ them the lead.
While introduces a background action in progress, so we use the past continuous passive: was being fought (the battle is fought by the companies). The main event, which happened during that time, takes the past simple: gave. Not was fought: the simple form does not show the action as ongoing background.
Question 14
Dwindling oil reserves and concerns _____ exhaust emissions have heightened the search _____ more sustainable sources.
Concerns over (or about) something means 'worries regarding it'. Search takes for: the search for more sustainable sources. Not about / at: although concerns about is correct, search at is not.
Question 15
The World Commission on Dams found that, _____ average, large dams exceed their budget _____ 56%.
On average is a fixed phrase meaning 'typically'. By shows the amount of difference: exceed their budget by 56%. Not in / off: we never say in average.
Question 16
The interiors of planets are totally inaccessible, _____ what we know about them comes from indirect measurements and analysis.
So introduces a result: because the interiors cannot be reached, our knowledge must come from indirect measurements. Not since, which introduces a reason and would reverse the logic. So as must be followed by to + infinitive.
Question 17
It was not long _____ the design deficiencies of the room became apparent.
It was not long before + clause is a fixed pattern meaning 'soon / after a short time': It was not long before the problems became apparent. Not when: It was not long when is not a correct English pattern.
Question 18
In every forensic laboratory, there should be _____ with the basic training to make sense of botanical evidence.
In an affirmative statement about a person who should exist, we use someone: there should be someone with the basic training. Not anyone: it is mainly used in questions and negatives, or to mean 'it doesn't matter who', so there should be anyone is wrong.
Question 19
The centre conducted the study _____ identify priority areas for conservation.
In order to + base verb expresses purpose: the reason the centre did the study was to identify priority areas. Not due to: it means 'because of' and is followed by a noun, not a verb.
Question 20
The next model the company produced was well-engineered and finely built; _____, it never became popular and sales were poor.
Even so means 'despite that'. It introduces a surprising contrast: the model was well made, but it still did not sell. Not on the contrary: it is used to reject a previous statement and replace it with an opposite one, not to show an unexpected result.
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