in spite of or for lack of?

[nado92]

They lost the game [ for lack of – in spite of – through – though ] good play .

[emsr2d2]

They lost the game [ for lack of – in spite of – through – though ] good play .

Which one do you think it is, and why?

[nado92]

I would choose in spite of .

[Raymott]

I would choose in spite of .

That's one choice. The answer depends on whether they played well, though. If they didn't the answer is "for lack of".

[SoothingDave]

I've seen teams lose "in spite of" good play, but "for lack of" is probably the expected answer. Poor question.

[Barb_D]

How is the test taker supposed to know whether they played well and still lost, or whether they lost because they played poorly?

[5jj]

I am working on an exterminating machine to detect moronic test questions and vaporise the people who wrote them. It's in its early days, but I am optimistic. I am posting this as a warning to moronic test-question composers: Mend your ways or risk vaporisation.

[emsr2d2]

I am working on an exterminating machine to detect moronic test questions and vaporise the people who wrote them. It's in its early days, but I am optimistic. I am posting this as a warning to moronic test-question composers: Mend your ways or risk vaporisation.

I will happily assist in its development and I'll certainly buy one when it's ready!

[Barb_D]

I hope anyone who makes tests with passive transformation questions that result in sentences no native speaker would ever spontaneously produce are on your list!

[5jj]

I hope anyone who makes tests with passive transformation questions that result in sentences no native speaker would ever spontaneously produce are on your list!

What has been hoped by you, having been submitted to the Morons (Vaporisation of) Committee, has been deemed worthy of being considered.