16Hit1600
Craft and StructureVery hardAdverb fixed by a hidden purpose

Craft and Structure practice question

The meeting was ____ about next year's budget, but everyone in the room knew its real purpose was to choose the next director.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

  1. A. ostensiblyCorrect
  2. B. exclusively
  3. C. secretly
  4. D. belatedly

Answer: A. ostensibly

The stated subject (budget) differed from the real one (the director). 'Ostensibly' means 'apparently, on the surface'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. exclusively
'Exclusively' would mean the meeting was ONLY about the budget, contradicting 'real purpose'.
C. secretly
The budget was the public subject, not the secret one.
D. belatedly
'Belatedly' means 'late', which doesn't fit the contrast between stated and real purposes.

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