Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below each statement should…
2023
Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below each statement should be placed in the blank space provided so as to make meaningful and grammatically correct sentence?
Washington cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 in favour of Beijing under the "one China" policy but_________________________
Answer: A. it maintains trade relations with the island and sells it weapons, angering China — CONCEPT: A sentence-completion item like this is solved with two checks: referential coherence, where any pronoun in the candidate continuation must correctly…
- A.
it maintains trade relations with the island and sells it weapons, angering China
- B.
Chinese official bitterly decried a growing trade war with the United States
- C.
Chinese exports to the U.S. including machinery and information and communication technology are still very high
- D.
Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a 15% tariff on 120 types of products, from fruits, nuts and wine to tubing
Attempted by 3 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
CONCEPT: A sentence-completion item like this is solved with two checks: referential coherence, where any pronoun in the candidate continuation must correctly point back to the subject already established in the sentence, and discourse coherence, where the connector before the blank governs what kind of continuation is allowed; here 'but' signals a contrast, so the continuation must stay on the same topic thread while contrasting with what precedes it, not introduce an unrelated subject.
APPLICATION: The sentence states that Washington cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 in favour of Beijing. 'But' signals a contrast to that formal break. A continuation opening with 'it' naturally refers back to Washington, the subject of the main clause, and 'it maintains trade relations with the island and sells it weapons, angering China' supplies exactly the kind of contrast the connector demands: formal ties were cut, but practical engagement with Taiwan continues.
CROSS-CHECK: Cross-checking the alternatives confirms none of them can complete the sentence coherently:
A continuation naming 'a Chinese official' abandons the established subject (Washington) and pivots to an unrelated US-China trade-war narrative that the diplomatic-ties clause never sets up.
A continuation about Chinese export volumes to the U.S. is a standalone economic fact with no logical link to Washington's decision to cut ties with Taiwan.
A continuation about a Chinese tariff announcement introduces a new actor and event unconnected to Washington's diplomatic move.
RESULT: Only the continuation that keeps 'Washington' as the subject (via 'it') and expresses continued practical engagement with Taiwan despite the formal break produces a grammatically and logically coherent sentence.