Select the correct option:
The company expanded so fast that its infrastructure could __________ manage to keep up.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. barely.
Context: The sentence indicates that the company’s infrastructure was struggling to keep up with rapid expansion. A word implying hardly or almost not is appropriate.
Meaning of the words:
Barely: Almost not; only just.
Despite: Preposition expressing contrast; grammatically incorrect here.
Indeed: Used for emphasis; does not fit the negative implication.
All but: Means “almost completely”; opposite of the intended meaning.
Correct word: Barely
Reason: “Barely manage to keep up” correctly conveys that the infrastructure could hardly cope with the company’s fast growth.
Final Sentence: The company expanded so fast that its infrastructure could barely manage to keep up.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.