steepest or deepest

[vectra]

Hello!
Could you help, please, with the following multiple-choice sentence:

Last month's job losses were the __ (=highest) since 1984.
a. deepest b. steepest c. steadiest

My choice is STEEPEST

Barack Obama said that the United States has a plan to bring the deficit ___ (=decrease the deficit) once the economic crisis has been resolved.
a. lower b. down c. downward

My choice is DOWN

He doesn't think that current economic conditions will continue to __ (=he thinks that the current economic conditions will change)
a. prevail b. lag on c. drag out

My choice is PREVAIL

And another question - is it OK after WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO LATELY?
say I WAS DOING A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
I mean Past continuous after Present Perfect Continuous.

All these questions came up during an intersting discussion with my students.

Thank you a lot for your time and help.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello!
Could you help, please, with the following multiple-choice sentence:

Last month's job losses were the __ (=highest) since 1984.
a. deepest b. steepest c. steadiest

My choice is STEEPEST

Barack Obama said that the United States has a plan to bring the deficit ___ (=decrease the deficit) once the economic crisis has been resolved.
a. lower b. down c. downward

My choice is DOWN

He doesn't think that current economic conditions will continue to __ (=he thinks that the current economic conditions will change)
a. prevail b. lag on c. drag out

My choice is PREVAIL

And another question - is it OK after WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO LATELY?
say I WAS DOING A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
I mean Past continuous after Present Perfect Continuous.

All these questions came up during an intersting discussion with my students.

Thank you a lot for your time and help.

All your answers to the multiple choice questions are correct. For your other question, would prefer "I have been doing..." to "I was doing..."

 

[Rover_KE]

I agree with all your choices.

I would say 'I've been doing a very important project'.

Rover

EDIT: too late again.