Past perfect continuous & Sports collocations — O/L English

How do I practise Past perfect continuous & Sports collocations?

1 question with a worked solution

Check before you answer: Continuous Past Aspect: Employing 'had been + verb-ing' rather than simple past when describing prolonged physical effort leading up to a specific match result.

1. Complete the commentary sentence with the correct prepositional phrase: 'Despite trailing in the first half, our volleyball team won the championship ______ sheer determination and teamwork.'
   1. A) through
   2. B) contrary to
   3. C) instead of
   4. D) in spite
   Check my answer

   Correct answer: A) through

   'Through' means by means of or as a result of ('through sheer determination and teamwork'). 'In spite' lacks 'of', and 'instead of' / 'contrary to' contradict the positive achievement.

   Show worked solution

   Step 1: Identify the relationship between victory and determination: determination was the means/instrument of victory. Step 2: Preposition denoting instrument/means: 'through' (by means of). Step 3: Verify grammar: 'won ... through sheer determination' is idiomatically and grammatically sound. Answer: through.
   Modelled on: the O/L English examination pattern

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Where does Past perfect continuous & Sports collocations fit in the syllabus?

Grade 10 · Term 3