Question

We must finish the project. ............... a year

• A. by
• B. within
• C. during
• D. For

Answer 1

Answer:

B. within

Prepositions of Time: Understanding 'Within' and 'Within a Year'

• 'Within' as a Preposition of Time: 'Within' is commonly used to indicate a period of time before a deadline or a specified duration elapses. It signifies that an action will be completed or occur at some point during that period, not necessarily at the very end of it.
• Usage in Context: When used with a time frame like 'a year', 'within a year' means the project must be finished at any point between now and the end of the year. It implies a deadline is approaching, and the task needs to be concluded before that time limit is reached.
• Common Competitive Exam Pitfalls: In multiple-choice questions, students often confuse 'within' with prepositions like 'by' (which also indicates a deadline but often emphasizes completion *at or before* the deadline) or 'for' (which indicates duration). Understanding the subtle difference in implication is key.
• Example Scenarios:
  • 'The report must be submitted within three days.' (Meaning anytime in the next three days, not necessarily on the third day.)
  • 'We expect to receive the results within a week.' (The results could come on the first day or the seventh day, but not after.)
• Why 'Within' is Correct Here: The sentence implies a requirement to complete the project before the passage of a full year. It sets an outer limit for completion. Other prepositions would change the meaning: 'for a year' would imply the project takes a year to complete, which is different from needing to finish it before a year is up. 'After a year' would mean starting or completing it after that time.