. . . . . . . . it stopped raining when we started our journey. A. As soon as B. Hardly had C. No sooner did D. Nevertheless

The correct answer is: B. Hardly had

The sentence “Hardly had it stopped raining when we started our journey” means that the rain stopped very shortly before we started our journey. This is a common idiom that is used to describe a situation in which something happens very quickly after something else.

The other options are not as appropriate in this context. “As soon as” could be used, but it is not as idiomatic as “hardly had.” “No sooner did” is also idiomatic, but it is more formal than “hardly had.” “Nevertheless” is not idiomatic at all in this context.

Here are some examples of how “hardly had” can be used in other sentences:

• Hardly had I sat down when the phone rang.
• Hardly had we arrived at the hotel when it started to rain.
• Hardly had I finished my homework when I was called to bed.