Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 18 to 22.

Although I left university with a solid academic record, the transition into the professional world proved far more challenging than I had anticipated. (18) ____________. Eventually, I realised that idealism was a luxury I could no longer afford. Faced with the prospect of serious economic hardship, (19) ____________: a position as a market research telephone interviewer. What I assumed would be a temporary solution soon became a prolonged and emotionally demanding experience.

The company’s expectations became clear even before my first official day of work. I was required to complete three full days of training without receiving any payment, a condition I found questionable but reluctantly accepted. I justified this decision by focusing on the relatively high hourly wage and (20) ____________. Nevertheless, the training itself offered little meaningful preparation. In retrospect, it served less as professional development and more as an introduction to a culture (21) ____________.

The working environment was highly restrictive and closely monitored. Approximately twenty interviewers were confined to narrow, poorly lit booths equipped with outdated technology. Supervisors sat at the centre of the room, silently listening to calls and enforcing strict rules. Any pause between calls (22) ____________, and interaction between colleagues was strictly forbidden. Even personal needs, such as visiting the toilet, required formal permission. As a result, time seemed to slow down dramatically, particularly during the long hours before scheduled breaks, creating a constant sense of fatigue and frustration.

Question 18. 

A. Several months passed successfully, and my confidence overall increased despite lingering personal anxiety about finances.

B. After many months had gone by, my confidence about the future returned as my financial anxiety gradually disappeared.

C. After several months of progress, financial anxiety eroded my confidence and hindered clearer planning for my professional future.

D. Months passed without any success, and my initial confidence was gradually replaced by anxiety about my financial future.