1. Mai worked hard, ______ she passed her exam. A. so B. although C. because D. though 2. The boy can’t reach the shelf ____ he’s not tall enough. A. because B. although C. even though D. and 3. ____ it rained, the boys played football. A. Even B. Even though C. However D. In spite of 4. _______ the traffic, I arrived on time. A. Though B. Although C. Even though D. In spite of 5. We watched TV the whole evening ______ we had nothing better to do. A. because B. though C. so D. but 6. ______ it was late, I decided to phone Brian. A. Despite B. However C. In spite of D. Though 7. ______ the car was cheap, it was in good condition. A. Although B. Because C. As D. If 8. ______ the storm, the ship couldn’t reach its destination on time. A. In case of B. In spite of C. Because of D. But for 9. He was offered the job ______ he had no experience. A. even though B. despite C. while D. however 10. We postponed the picnic __________ A. because it is raining heavily B. because of the raining heavily C. because the heavily rain it was D. because it was raining heavily 11. _____her severe pain, she tried to walk to the auditorium to attend the lecture. A. Although B. Despite C. though D. In spite 12. She went to bed early _______she felt tired. A. although B. despite C. because D. because of 13. I couldn’t read the letter _______ the darkness. A. despite B. in spite of C. because of D. because 14. The boys were punished ___________ he made many mistakes. A. in spite of B. because C. even though D. as if 15. Despite feeling cold, we kept walking. A. Although we felt cold, but we kept walking B. Although we felt cold, we kept walking C. However cold we felt, but we kept walking D. However we felt cold, we kept walking 16. She decided to leave her job in the company _____ she could earn a lot of money there. A. because B. although C. despite D. since 17. Hong didn’t participate in the English contest_________ her lack of confidence. A. because B. because of C. since D. despite 18. He hid that letter in a draw _________ no one could read it. A. so that B. although C. in spite of D. because 19. I could not eat ____ I was very hungry. A. even though B. in spite C. despite D. in spite the fact that 20. In spite _____ , the baseball game was not cancelled. A. the rain B. of the rain C. it was raining D. there was a rain 21. ______ he had enough money, he refused to buy a new car. A. In spite B. In spite of C. Despite D. Although 22. ______ , he walked to the station . A. Despite being tired B. Although to be tired C. In spite being tired D. Despite tired 23. The children slept well, despite _____ A. it was noise B. the noise C. of the noise D. noisy 24. She was so busy that she couldn’t answer the phone. A. Because she was very busy, she couldn’t answer the phone. B. Because she was very busy, she could answer the phone. C. Though she was very busy, she couldn’t answer the phone. D. Though she was very busy, she could