________ is often the case with a new idea, much preliminary activity and optimistic discussion produced no concrete proposals.
句意： 一个新想法诞生之初往往是这样， 许多初步活动及乐观讨论不会产生什么具体的建议。 as is often the case 固定搭配， 意为“这是常有的事”。 故选 E。