Question 1
I was forced to admit that there was a drop in sales towards the end of the year _____ he had predicted.
Just as means 'exactly in the way that'. Here it links the drop in sales to the prediction: things happened just as he had predicted. Not such as, which introduces examples, and not so far as, which means 'to the extent that'.
Question 2
The orders were that we _____ the area within hours to prevent further loss of life.
This is reported speech after a past verb (The orders were that…), so the obligation have to moves back to had to: we had to evacuate the area. Not had evacuated, which is past perfect and describes a finished earlier action, not an order or obligation.
Question 3
The Deputy Prime Minister announced that it was _____ early to propose amendments in the legislation concerning industrial relations.
As yet means 'so far, up to now', and too early means 'earlier than is suitable'. Together, it was as yet too early to propose amendments means it was still too soon. None of the other options can go before the adjective early in this way.
Question 4
The answer to the question _____ great art can exist independently of religion will, _____, depend on society’s moral and aesthetic values.
The question whether… introduces a yes/no question: can great art exist independently of religion or not? To a large extent means 'mostly' and fits the idea that the answer will depend on society's values. Not what, because what great art can exist would ask which art, not whether it can.
Question 5
Clifford Geertz, probably _____ famous anthropologist of his generation, revolutionised the way anthropology was taught on campuses.
When we compare one person with all the others in a group, we use the superlative with the: the most famous anthropologist of his generation. Not most alone, because the superlative before a singular noun here needs the. Not the more, which compares only two.
Question 6
Activists are those in a political movement who insist on taking active steps towards their objectives _____ merely putting forward an action programme.
Rather than means 'instead of'. Here it is followed by the -ing form, matching taking: activists take active steps rather than merely putting forward a programme. Not in order to, which expresses purpose and must be followed by a bare infinitive (in order to put), not an -ing form.
Question 7
The very idea of establishing a literary ‘canon’ has become _____ controversial that the people running the Library of America have wisely avoided using the term.
The pattern is so + adjective + that to show a result: so controversial that they avoided the term. Not such, which needs a noun phrase (such a controversial idea that…). Not too, which goes with to-infinitive, not that.
Question 8
Thailand has lost half of its forests _____ its population has _____ doubled in recent decades.
Here as means 'while / at the same time as': forests were lost as the population grew. More than doubled means it grew to over twice its size. Not just as / mostly, because mostly doubled does not make sense for an exact amount.
Question 9
As he was not satisfied with the contents of the document, he declined to sign it, and none of the members attempted to persuade him to, _____.
Either is used at the end of a negative clause to add another negative idea: he declined to sign, and none of the members tried to persuade him, either. Not too or as well, which are used only in positive clauses.
Question 10
Under these circumstances he should never have been allowed to take charge of the operation _____ he was the most senior of the officers available.
Even though introduces a contrast with a known fact: he was the most senior officer, but he still should not have been in charge. Not whether, which presents two possibilities, and not so that, which expresses purpose.
Question 11
When the relief workers reached the scene of the disaster, they immediately began to help _____ who could do nothing for _____.
Those who means 'the people who'. The reflexive pronoun that matches those (plural, third person) is themselves: those who could do nothing for themselves. Not them / their, because them who is not used and their is not a reflexive pronoun.
Question 12
Holding a yellow umbrella in his hand, he said he didn’t know _____ it was, and added that it was not _____.
Whose asks about the owner: he didn't know whose it was. Then the possessive pronoun his (= his umbrella) stands alone: it was not his. Not which / him, because him is an object pronoun, not a possessive.
Question 13
They haven’t met for twelve years or more, but I understand they still write to _____ at regular intervals.
Each other shows a two-way action: each person writes to the other. Not themselves, which would mean each person writes to himself or herself. At regular intervals means 'regularly, with the same time between each'.
Question 14
It was foolish of me to turn down such an offer; in fact _____ I think about it, _____ I regret it.
The double comparative the more…, the more… shows that two things increase together: the more I think about it, the more I regret it. Both parts must use the + comparative, so mixed options like the more / as much are wrong.
Question 15
The scheme has been _____ consideration for a long time now, but I doubt whether it will ever be put _____ effect.
These are fixed phrases: under consideration means 'being thought about', and put into effect means 'start to use or apply'. No other preposition is used in these collocations.
Question 16
It was _____ his efforts that the two sides finally agreed to hold talks _____ the principles of economic cooperation.
Through his efforts means 'because of / by means of his efforts'. We hold talks on a subject, so talks on the principles. Not by / through, because talks through the principles is not the right collocation.
Question 17
Why can’t you admit that _____ hard he works, he will never manage to achieve what his elder brother has achieved?
However + adjective/adverb means 'no matter how': however hard he works = no matter how hard he works. Not though, which cannot come directly before hard in this sense, and not whatsoever, which is used after negative nouns (no chance whatsoever).
Question 18
Many more people would doubtlessly have attended the debate _____ they had known in advance who the principal speakers were.
This is a third conditional (would have attended… if they had known) about an unreal past. If only is a stronger form of if, adding the idea of regret. The other options are time or reason words and cannot introduce the condition.
Question 19
If our delegates hadn’t shown themselves willing to come to terms, those from other countries _____.
The main clause of a third conditional uses would have + past participle, here shortened to wouldn't have (shown themselves willing). Because the idea is negative, we add either, not too. Not would have, too, which gives the opposite, positive meaning.
Question 20
In recent decades the efficiency of the United Nations _____ by a growing number of countries.
In recent decades describes a period that started in the past and continues to now, so we use the present perfect. The passive has been questioned is needed because the subject (the efficiency) receives the action. Not was questioned, because past simple does not link the past to the present.
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