much too burdensome for the smaller

[keannu]

Source : Hackers TOEIC , 165p

3. If the proposed rate increase is approved, taxes in the region will be ___________ burdensome for the smaller businesses to handle
a) much too b)such c)so d) not quite

The answer is a, but doesn't c)so work also? Is "much too" for negative nuance, while "so" is positive nuance?
Is this rule definite?

 

[GoesStation]

The answer is a, but doesn't c)so work also?

No.

Is "much too" for negative nuance, while "so" is positive nuance?

I don't understand the question.

Is this rule definite?

What rule?

 

[keannu]

Why doesn't "so" work?

 

[GoesStation]

Why doesn't "so" work?

It requires a reference. You could say, for example, Taxes in the region will be so burdensome for the smaller businesses that many will have to shut down.

 

[keannu]

I've seen lots of sentences like this.
"This is so embarrassing."
,where so can stand alone.

I don't understand the question and your explanation.

 

[GoesStation]

I've seen lots of sentences like this:
"This is so embarrassing,"
where "so" can stand alone.

That's common in casual American English. Don't use it that way in formal writing — or when answering exam questions.

Please don't forget that quotation marks are required punctuation. Replace periods ("full stops" in British English) with commas within quotation marks when the quoted sentence ends with one.

 

[jutfrank]

Let me change the direction of the thread away from the wrong answer (so) in order to turn to the right answer (much too). On the whole, I don't think it's a good idea to ask why something is wrong when you could be asking why something is right.

The way to get the right answer to this question is to spot the construction used, which can be written like this:

[much] too + adjective +for somebody + to do something

If the proposed rate increase is approved, taxes in the region will be much too burdensome for the smaller businesses to handle.

Of the choices given, only much too can fit this pattern.

 

[jutfrank]

In casual English, , this construction is possible:

so + adjective for somebody + to do something:

If the proposed rate increase is approved, taxes in the region will be so burdensome for the smaller businesses to handle.

Okay, that's a good point. I think you've pointed out that for the test-taker to be able to select the right word, he needs to be able to understand the meaning of the sentence as a whole before identifying which construction is being used.

 

[Tdol]

Source : Hackers TOEIC , 165p

3. If the proposed rate increase is approved, taxes in the region will be ___________ burdensome for the smaller businesses to handle
a) much too b)such c)so d) not quite

The answer is a, but doesn't c)so work also? Is "much too" for negative nuance, while "so" is positive nuance?
Is this rule definite?

What exactly is a positive tax burden? It wouldn't be a burden as burdens are negative.