🧵 接続詞 ・ リン
TOEIC Part5文法問題 リン: Q68（接続詞）
The board approved the budget ___ some members expressed concerns.
The board approved the budget ___ some members expressed concerns.
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正解: A) even though
What follows the blank is the clause 'some members expressed concerns'. The conjunction 'even though' fits, since it takes a clause to express concession. 'In spite of', 'despite', and 'regardless of' are all prepositions and can only take a noun phrase, not a clause. The meanings are all similar, so the deciding factor is whether a clause or a noun phrase follows.