Out of the given alternatives given choose the most appropriate option.
Smoking will never be given up, __________ the tobacco industry thrives.

Correct option is B

The correct option to fill in the blank is (b) as long as.
• Explanation:
– The sentence expresses a condition for continuity: smoking will continue while the tobacco industry is active.
– "As long as" correctly expresses this conditional time relationship.
• Grammatical rule used:
– Use "as long as" to show that one action will continue depending on the duration or condition of another action.
• Explanation in Hindi:
– जब एक क्रिया दूसरी क्रिया की स्थिति पर निर्भर हो, तब "as long as" का प्रयोग किया जाता है, जैसे: जब तक ऐसा होगा, तब तक वैसा होता रहेगा।
• Example:
– You can stay here as long as you behave properly. ✅
Meanings of the other options:
• (a) so that ❌
– English: Indicates purpose – not suitable here.
– Hindi: ताकि
• (c) though ❌
– English: Used to show contrast – not suitable for conditional continuity.
– Hindi: हालांकि
• (d) as if ❌
– English: Used for imaginary or unreal comparisons.
– Hindi: जैसे कि