Kojo succeeded in passing his examination … the odds he faced

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "Kojo succeeded in passing his examination __ the odds he faced."

The blank comes before a noun phrase ("the odds he faced"), so we need a preposition that shows contrast: he passed even though the odds were against him.

Explain the concept

• Despite is a preposition meaning "in spite of". It is followed directly by a noun or noun phrase: despite the rain, despite the odds.
• Regardless needs of to work as a preposition: regardless of the odds. On its own, it is an adverb (e.g., "He went ahead regardless"), so it is incomplete here.
• Moreover is a linking adverb meaning "in addition". It adds information and does not show contrast.
• However is a linking adverb that shows contrast between two separate sentences or clauses. It cannot be followed directly by a noun phrase in this way.

Solution

• A. "...passing his examination regardless the odds" is wrong because "of" is missing.
• B. "...passing his examination despite the odds he faced" is correct and natural.
• C. "...moreover the odds" makes no sense.
• D. "...however the odds" is ungrammatical here.

Answer: B. despite

Tip: Remember the pairs: despite = in spite of, and regardless = regardless of. If a contrast word is followed directly by a noun and has no "of", despite is usually the answer. WASSCE often tests this by offering "regardless" without "of" as a trap.