________, the records have been completely undermined by shoddy book-keeping.
- (a)Because of
- (b)As such
- (c)Forever
- (d)Hence
Correct — B, 'As such'. Here 'as such' functions as a connector meaning 'consequently / in that capacity', standing at the head of the clause without needing an object and linking the ruin of the records to a preceding cause. Note the softness: 'Hence' (d) carries virtually the same consequence sense and would read just as naturally — 'as such' is treated as the intended key.
- (a)Because of — A preposition that must be followed by a noun phrase ('because of the shoddy book-keeping'); it cannot stand alone before a comma as a sentence connector, so it is grammatically impossible in the blank.
- (c)Forever — An adverb of duration meaning 'for all time'; it neither links back to a cause nor fits as an opener before this clause.
- (d)Hence — This is the near-miss: 'hence' also means 'for this reason / therefore' and would fit the blank naturally — 'as such' is taken as the intended answer, and the two are effectively interchangeable here, which is why the item is soft.
'As such' is used to mean 'consequently / in that capacity'; strictly it refers back to a named category, but it is often used loosely as a consequence connector, as here.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
'He was appointed treasurer and, ________, is responsible for the accounts.' Best fills the blank —
- (a)as such
- (b)because of
- (c)forever
- (d)meanwhile
Answer(a) as such — it refers back to his role as treasurer ('in that capacity').
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which connective means 'for this reason / therefore'?
- (a)Hence
- (b)Because of
- (c)Forever
- (d)Meanwhile
Answer(a) Hence — it introduces a consequence.