Supposing the negotiations ______ down completely, what alternative diplomatic channels could be pursued?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. were to break
- Step 1: The conditional marker 'supposing' introduces an unreal hypothetical condition in the present or future. The inverted form 'were to break' indicates a hypothetical contingency linked to 'could be pursued' in the main clause. Answer: were to break. Why not the others: "had broken fully" shifts the hypothetical scenario into a counterfactual past, conflicting with 'could be pursued'; "are breaking now" uses present progressive indicative, which lacks the hypothetical subjunctive nuance required; "will break soon" uses future indicative modal 'will', which is ungrammatical inside an unreal conditional clause.
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