Question

In the question below, three sentences are given with a part highlighted in bold. From the options, choose the phrase that can replace the highlighted part in all three sentences to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. 1. The noise became particularly animated towards the end of the evening when the rewards bestowed by the Emperor were mentioned. 2. At the beginning of the battle they stood blocking the way to Moscow and they still did so at the culmination of the battle as at the beginning. 3. In the final stages of the battle of Borodino, Pierre, made his way through a gully with a crowd of soldiers.

Q: Answer-In the question below, three sentences are given with a part highlighted in bold. From the options,...

b All the sentences talk about the end of something. 1 talks about how the noise increased in intensity as it became late. 2 talks about how they blocked the way to Moscow at the end of the battle. 3 talks about how Pierre went with the soldiers through the gully at the end of the battle. AT THE CLOSE OF is used to show the end of something, and can replace all the highlighted phrases. Thus, b is the right answer. A and C are incorrect as they talk about the proximity to something. D is incorrect as it means in conflict with someone.