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Difficulty: MediumConjunctions and Clause Structure

Fill in the blank in the sentence below with the appropriate subordinating conjunction that correctly introduces the concessive clause.

Answer:【Much as】 the manager attempted to justify the sudden expenditure, the auditors remained skeptical of the financial report.

Answer

Much as
The conjunction 'Much as' introduces a subordinate clause of concession and is synonymous with 'although' or 'even though'. It correctly precedes the finite subject-verb structure 'the manager attempted'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the subordinate clause ('the manager attempted to justify the sudden expenditure') and the main clause ('the auditors remained skeptical...').
The two clauses express a contrast or concession, indicating an outcome contrary to expectations.
Identifying clause relations establishes the category of conjunction required.
2
Determine the conjunction that introduces a finite concessive clause in formal English.
'Much as' functions as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
'Much as' properly connects a finite subordinate clause (containing subject 'the manager' and verb 'attempted') to the main clause.

Key Concept

Subordinating Conjunctions of Concession
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Conjunctions and Clause Structure

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