Fill in the blank with the correct word:
A preposition is a word which comes before a noun or a pronoun and establishes a relationship between the elements of a clause or words. Option C)despite is correct as it is used before one fact that makes the other surprising. The other options are wrong as before, by, and since indicate sometime earlier, usage, and a duration with its starting point given respectively. These uses don't fit in the given question. The correct answer is C)despite.