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

The correct option to fill in the blank is (a) barely. Barely means “only just / almost not,” which fits perfectly with “keep up,” showing the systems were nearly unable to match the speed of growth. (Hindi meaning: मुश्किल से) Example: The servers could barely keep up with the sudden spike in users. Explain why other options are incorrect: · (b) merely: means “only/simply,” but it does not express difficulty or near-failure. (Hindi:केवल/मात्र) ·(c) scarcely: close to “barely,” but sounds more formal and is less natural with “keep up” here.(Hindi: मुश्किल से/बहुत कम) · (d) all but: means “almost/nearly,” and would shift the sense toward “almost kept up,” not “kept up with difficulty.” (Hindi: लगभग)