Select the correct option:
The company expanded so quickly that its systems could _______ keep up.

Question

Accepted Answer

1. Read the sentence: it means the systems could almost not keep up.

2. Check meanings: **barely** = almost not; **merely** = only; **scarcely** = hardly; **(d)** is confusing.

3. Both **barely** and **scarcely** are similar, but **"could barely keep up"** is the most natural phrase.

4. So the best choice is (a).

FINAL_ANSWER: a

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Answer

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