Select the phrase/ connector (it must be at the start) from the given three options which can be used to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences.

The Central Government must cut down on the defence budget. Otherwise, the financial crisis will not be resolved.

(i) Unless the Central Government...

(ii) While the Central Government...

(iii) After the Central Government...

The correct answer is option 1, i.e., 'Only (i)'.

• Out of the given three options, the two sentences can be joined in only one way: 'Unless the Central Government cuts down on the defence budget, the financial crisis will not be resolved'.
• Thus, only option (i) is correct.    

• We use the conjunction unless to mean ‘except if’. The clause which follows unless is a subordinate clause (sc): it needs the main clause (mc) to make a complete sentence.
• Unless is a conditional word (like if), so we don’t use will or would in the subordinate clause:
  • Unless I hear from you, I’ll see you at two o’clock.
  • Not: Unless I’ll hear from you …
• We use unless to introduce an extra thought or piece of information:
  • He didn’t even know about the crash – unless he’d heard about it on the radio.