单选题 ______ long it may take, no final decision will be made until after all the short-listed applicants have been interviewed twice.

A、 However
B、 Whenever
C、 Although
D、 Despite

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】横线后的语序为“形容词(long)+主语(it)+谓语(may take)”，因此横线处所填单词应修饰形容词long并引导状语从句，(A)however最恰当。(D)despite(不管)是介词，不能引导从句。(B)whenever(无论何时)和(C)although(尽管)不符合句意，且搭配不连贯。