The boss insisted that the report be completed ______ Wednesday.

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Multiple Choice

The boss insisted that the report be completed ______ Wednesday.

Explanation:
This item tests choosing the right preposition to express a deadline. When a boss says the report must be completed by Wednesday, by means not later than that day, and it can be finished on Wednesday itself. That matches the sense of a due date. Using on would mark Wednesday as the specific day to finish, which changes the meaning to finishing exactly on that day. Before would imply finishing earlier than Wednesday, which narrows the time too much. At isn’t used for deadlines. So by is the best fit, conveying the latest acceptable time for completion.

This item tests choosing the right preposition to express a deadline. When a boss says the report must be completed by Wednesday, by means not later than that day, and it can be finished on Wednesday itself. That matches the sense of a due date. Using on would mark Wednesday as the specific day to finish, which changes the meaning to finishing exactly on that day. Before would imply finishing earlier than Wednesday, which narrows the time too much. At isn’t used for deadlines. So by is the best fit, conveying the latest acceptable time for completion.

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