Sentence Completion

At a glance 10 rules

1. 1Connector firstThe joining word sets the ending: so wants a result, because a cause, although a contrast, for instance an example. Finish it yourself, then match.
2. 2Contrary flips belief'Contrary to belief' and 'surprisingly' point away from the expectation: say what everyone expected, then pick the ending that defies it.
3. 3Examples must proveAfter 'for instance', the ending must back the exact claim. An example that is true but proves something else is the trap.
4. 4Even marks the extreme'Even the coach was surprised' means the rest were surprised too, or more. The ending must build on that extreme case.
5. 5Unless means if not'X unless Y' means 'X if not Y', so Y must be something that would stop X. Read each ending as that stopper.
6. 6Rather than X, Y'Rather than X, Y' needs X to be a real alternative to Y that was turned down. X cannot be Y in other words, or something unrelated.
7. 7Keep the scope'Which means' allows only what is proved: most is not all, one class is not the whole school, and a new cause is not proved.
8. 8Ironically: it backfired'Ironically' needs an outcome that defeats the action's own aim. A coincidence, or a pleasant side effect, is not irony.
9. 9Not merely means more'Not merely X; Y' keeps X and adds something stronger. An ending that repeats X in new words, or takes X back, is wrong.
10. 10Copy the relation'Just as A, so B' needs B to share A's relation in a new setting. The same setting with a new relation, or the reverse relation, is the trap.