Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: as
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This cloze question tests the use of the conjunction as to express manner or way. The passage describes how a photo album contains memories in the exact way you choose to recall them. The sentence states that everything exists blank you choose to remember it. We must select the word that conveys the idea of manner or form in which something exists in memory.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The incomplete clause is everything exists blank you choose to remember it.
- The options are so, to, at, and as.
- The context is memory and the way photos preserve moments.
- We need a conjunction that can introduce a clause of manner.
Concept / Approach:
The phrase exists as you choose to remember it means that something exists in the same form or manner in which you decide to recall it. As is commonly used to express manner: do as you like, write as you speak. So usually introduces result, to functions mainly as a preposition or infinitive marker, and at is a preposition of place or time. Therefore, as is the only option that logically and grammatically connects exists with the clause you choose to remember it in this sentence.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Insert so: everything exists so you choose to remember it. This suggests a purpose clause and changes the meaning.
Step 2: Insert to: everything exists to you choose to remember it. This is grammatically incorrect.
Step 3: Insert at: everything exists at you choose to remember it. This is not a valid construction.
Step 4: Insert as: everything exists as you choose to remember it. This expresses the idea of manner or form correctly.
Step 5: Recognise that as you choose to remember it means in the way you choose to remember it.
Step 6: Conclude that as is the only suitable conjunction.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can expand the idea in a more explicit sentence: In the album, every moment exists exactly in the way you choose to remember it. The shorter version everything exists as you choose to remember it is the natural cloze answer. We can also compare with other examples: Life appears as you see it, or The story unfolds as the director imagines it. In each case, as introduces a clause that describes manner. Using so, to, or at in these sentences would produce incorrect or awkward English. Thus, as is clearly the correct choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, so, is wrong because it normally introduces a clause of result or purpose, as in so that, not a clause of manner in this construction.
Option B, to, is wrong because it functions as a preposition or infinitive marker, and cannot correctly link exists and you choose to remember it.
Option C, at, is wrong because it is used for place or time, not for describing how something exists in memory.
Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students see the word so and quickly associate it with that in a so that structure, forgetting that the full phrase is required for correct grammar. In cloze passages, writers often remove only one word from a multiword expression, and the remaining part no longer fits. It is important to read the whole sentence and interpret the meaning, not just match patterns mechanically. Remember that as is a very flexible conjunction that can show time, cause, and especially manner, which is the function required in this sentence.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is as.
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