Peter and Jane love each other … the difficulties they face.

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "Peter and Jane love each other ...... the difficulties they face."

The gap comes before a noun phrase ("the difficulties they face"), so we need a preposition that fits the meaning. The sentence shows love continuing even though there are difficulties.

Explain the concept

• Despite is a preposition meaning "in spite of". It is followed by a noun or noun phrase and shows contrast.
• Therefore and however are conjunctive adverbs. They join two full ideas or clauses, usually with a comma or semicolon, and are not followed directly by a noun phrase.
• Besides means "in addition to" or "apart from". It adds information and does not show contrast.

Test each option

• A. "...love each other therefore the difficulties they face" is wrong. "Therefore" shows result and cannot link to a noun phrase.
• B. "...love each other despite the difficulties they face" is correct. It is grammatical, and the meaning is that they love each other even though they face difficulties.
• C. "...love each other however the difficulties they face" is wrong. "However" needs a clause, as in "However, they face difficulties."
• D. "...love each other besides the difficulties they face" is wrong. It means "in addition to", which makes no logical sense here.

Answer: B (despite)

Exam tip: When a gap comes before a noun phrase and the sentence shows contrast, think of despite or in spite of. Remember that however and therefore usually need a comma and a full clause.