Much as ______, I couldn't lend him the money because I simply didn't have that much spare cash.[1999]
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析：as在这里引导让步状语从句，因此需要将副词much提到句首，进行倒装。选择虚拟语气would have liked to表示对过去发生情况的猜测和假设，可以使说话人语气变得委婉。