The economy of the country has remained _______ despite the crisis

Step 1: Analyze the question The sentence is: "The economy of the country has remained ___ despite the crisis." We need an adjective that describes an economy and fits with "remained ... despite the crisis," meaning it did not weaken even under pressure.

Step 2: Explain the concept This tests collocation, which means knowing which words naturally go together in English. Several options look possible, so we must choose the one that is most idiomatic with "economy."

Step 3: Test each option

• A. strong: "a strong economy" is a very common phrase. It means the economy is healthy and productive, and "remained strong despite the crisis" reads naturally.
• B. realistic: This describes plans, goals, or expectations, not an economy. It does not fit.
• C. tough: This describes people, conditions, or decisions ("tough times"). We do not normally say "a tough economy" to mean a resilient one.
• D. firm: "Firm" can describe a currency, prices, or a stance ("the naira remained firm"). It is less natural for the economy as a whole, though it is not completely wrong.

Step 4: Identify the answer "Strong" is the best collocation with "economy" and gives the clearest meaning: the economy stayed healthy despite the crisis.

Tip: In "fill in the gap" questions, ask which word native speakers most commonly pair with the noun. "Strong economy," "heavy rain," and "high temperature" are collocations you should learn as fixed pairs. Also eliminate options that describe the wrong kind of noun, such as "realistic," which is used for plans and ideas.