A flexible-working pilot

The deciding clue is “Had the manager [1] _____ solely on attendance figures, she might have misunderstood the flexible-working pilot.”. Had + subject + past participle is an inverted if-clause about an unreal past alternative. It means if ... had relied...; it does not state that reliance actually occurred. In this task, the completed sentence is “Had the manager relied solely on attendance figures, she might have misunderstood the flexible-working pilot.”.

The deciding clue is “The evaluation was designed to take different job requirements into [2] _____.”. Take something into account means include it when making a decision; the noun account completes this fixed expression. In this task, the completed sentence is “The evaluation was designed to take different job requirements into account.”.

The deciding clue is “By the time the first review began, staff [3] _____ their working patterns for twelve weeks.”. Use had been + -ing to express the duration of activity leading up to a past point, including evidence of recent activity. In this task, the completed sentence is “By the time the first review began, staff had been recording their working patterns for twelve weeks.”.

The deciding clue is “The most [4] _____ finding was that different teams faced different practical limits.”. The gap describes the following finding/discovery/improvement; an adjective, significant, is needed after the most. In this task, the completed sentence is “The most significant finding was that different teams faced different practical limits.”.

The deciding clue is “[5] _____ the average satisfaction score increased, several workers reported difficulty contacting colleagues.”. Use although/even though + finite clause to express a concession followed by a subject and finite verb. In this task, the completed sentence is “Although the average satisfaction score increased, several workers reported difficulty contacting colleagues.”.

The deciding clue is “The evaluators proposed [6] _____ a common period when everyone would be available.”. Propose/recommend followed directly by an action takes an -ing complement here. The plan is the action itself, not a finite tense or an inserted to-infinitive. In this task, the completed sentence is “The evaluators proposed introducing a common period when everyone would be available.”.

The deciding clue is “Their report placed emphasis [7] _____ access to shared information rather than time spent at a desk.”. The collocation is based on for a basis, or place emphasis on for a focus. In the completed sentence, on introduces the stated basis or focus. In this task, the completed sentence is “Their report placed emphasis on access to shared information rather than time spent at a desk.”.

The deciding clue is “They interviewed employees [8] _____ work involved supporting colleagues outside normal office hours.”. The relative clause starts with a noun associated with the antecedent, such as work, family or objections. Whose marks that possessive connection while the following noun remains in place. In this task, the completed sentence is “They interviewed employees whose work involved supporting colleagues outside normal office hours.”.

The deciding clue is “Only after the revised arrangements had been tested [9] _____ the organisation extend the pilot.”. Use only after/until + clause; inverted main clause to express inversion in the main clause, not inside the clause introduced by after or until. In this task, the completed sentence is “Only after the revised arrangements had been tested did the organisation extend the pilot.”.

The deciding clue is “The next evaluation must compare different experiences, [10] _____ than rely on a single overall average.”. Rather than contrasts the intended action with the alternative being rejected; the two actions have parallel grammatical roles. In this task, the completed sentence is “The next evaluation must compare different experiences, rather than rely on a single overall average.”.

The deciding clue is “[11] _____ the interview notes, the manager invited the affected teams to design a practical solution.”. Use having + past participle to express a completed action explicitly preceding the main-clause event. In this task, the completed sentence is “Having examined the interview notes, the manager invited the affected teams to design a practical solution.”.

The deciding clue is “Had she ignored those differences, she [12] _____ an arrangement that worked well for only some staff.”. Use would have + past participle to express the unreal past result of a condition that did not happen. In this task, the completed sentence is “Had she ignored those differences, she would have introduced an arrangement that worked well for only some staff.”.