Grammar question from Official Guide

Test Preparation
1

<p>Page 417, number 29</p>

<p>Contrasting with most other fifteenth century rulers, Portuguese kings could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures.</p>

2

<p>Is "could" a choice?</p>

3

<p>No. The choices are...
Contrasting with
Most other
Could count on
in any.</p>

<p>Could count on isn't the right choice.
In my opinion, it should be "in any" because "in any" doesn't match with "ventures." it should be "in any venture," or "in ventures," I thought, but CB says I'm wrong.</p>

4

<p>It's A (well, I got it right when I looked at it) because it sounds funny....and I think you can either eliminate the "with" or make it "contrasting against"?</p>

5

<p>"Contrasting with" is the wrong choice of words. It should be something like "Contrary to" or "Unlike."</p>

6

<p>Contrasting should be "In Contrast"</p>

7

<p>It should be "in contrast to"</p>