________, women are healthier and are living longer than ever before: indeed on an average, they can expect to live five years longer than men.
- (a)To a large extent
- (b)As regards
- (c)As far as
- (d)Turning now
Correct — A, 'To a large extent'. 'To a large extent' means 'largely / for the most part', and it frames a qualified generalisation — 'To a large extent, women are healthier and are living longer...'. The following 'indeed... five years longer than men' confirms and strengthens that broad claim.
- (b)As regards — Means 'concerning' and must take a noun phrase ('As regards women's health...'); before a full clause with its own subject it is grammatically incomplete.
- (c)As far as — Introduces a limiting clause that needs completion ('as far as I know / as far as health is concerned'); standing bare before the clause it is a fragment.
- (d)Turning now — A topic-shift phrase that needs a 'to + topic' complement ('Turning now to health...'); used bare it does not fit a qualified generalisation.
'To a large extent' means 'largely / mostly' — it opens a broad claim while conceding it is not absolute.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Choose the best opener: '________, the reforms succeeded, though a few sectors lagged.'
- (a)To a large extent
- (b)As regards
- (c)As far as
- (d)Turning now
Answer(a) To a large extent — a qualified generalisation that allows exceptions.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which completes the sentence correctly? '________ the budget, the minister promised a fuller statement next week.'
- (a)As regards
- (b)To a large extent
- (c)Turning now
- (d)Indeed
Answer(a) As regards — 'concerning the budget' takes the noun phrase that follows.