I was very confused in this sentence:
(Most/Virtually) every industry in our modern world requires the work of engineers.
I hold the view the answer is "most". I contend that "most" means more than 50% percent or almost of somebody/something and "virtually" is equivalent. I suppose both of them are correct but "most" is more appropriate.
However, there is only one correct answer, and it is "virtually". I have no idea why that one is right. If you choose "virtually", could you explain the reason for me?
Here is the full sentence:
________ every industry in our modern world requires the work of engineers.
A. Wholly
B. Hardly
C. Most
D. Virtually
Best Answer
Your interpretation of "most" meaning "more than 50%" is a determiner. For example, "Most dogs are friendly", most is a determiner of dogs.
However, in your sentence, a determiner doesn't fit at that position. You would need an adverb, and you need an adverb that can modify "every". Now "virtually" is an adverb that modify "every", and "virtually every" is a common combination.
"Most" can be used as an adverb. It has the special use of forming superlatives, but "every" isn't an adjective, so this adverbial meaning doesn't fit. "Most" also has a meaning of "almost". This meaning is chiefly American, and this would make "most" a possible answer, but not the most likely one. This usage is informal, and many language professors would be likely to insist on the use of the word "almost" - "almost every" rather than "most every".
The other two words don't fit, since they don't modify "every". So there are two possible correct answers. "virtually" and "most", with "virtually" being much more likely, especially in British English.
(dictionary source)