<p>A few multinational corporations have tried to maximize profit at the <strong>expense</strong> of their own workers' safety, skimping on workplace protections, and paid time off.</p>
<p>The correct answer is <strong>(D) expense</strong>.</p>
<p>In this sentence, the phrase "at the expense of" means that the corporations prioritize maximizing profit over the safety and well-being of their workers. "Expense" is a noun that means the cost or sacrifice required to achieve something. In this context, it refers to the sacrifice of workers' safety and benefits.</p>
<p>Options (A) "expensive," (B) "expensed," and (C) "expensively" are not appropriate in this sentence. "Expensive" is an adjective that describes something as having a high cost. "Expensed" is the past tense of the verb "expense," which means to record or charge an expense. "Expensively" is an adverb that describes the manner in which something is done at a high cost.</p>