Why not the other options here?

[Millie]

Following is an extract from a cloze:

But learning on the job, which involved observing a certain procedure and then practising it, was easily the most popular method for all categories of employee. While many felt that learning from colleagues was best, very few ___ that internet as an effective way to train.
a. rated b. thought c. marked d. believed

please. tell me why the answer is a. rated and why not the other options here.
Thank you very much!

[Alan]

Hi,

I wouldn't use (a) unless it read - 'rated the Internet...'. As it stands, I would say: very few believed/thought that the Internet was an effective ....

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Millie]

Thank you very much, Alan!
The problem is that this is an extract from a test of BEC. We must make a choice among these 4 options.

Could you please. try to find some reasonable explanation for me for the selected a. rated? Sorry I am teaching BEC now and the students are waiting for my explanation.

Thank you again for your help!

[Millie]

I am terribly sorry that I've made a fatal typing mistake here: it is not "that" but "the" in front of "internet".

Sorry for wasting your time, Alan.

Still waiting for your reply.

[Millie]

rate sth. as... means regard sth as..
I know it is ok. However, can we also say think sth. as? In fact, the confusion is now with these two options.

Could you please. tell me why "think sth. as" can not be used here?

[Tortoise]

I think if you want to use "think", you should have "of". That is: think of sth. as....

[Millie]

Thank you, Tortoise!

I got it!

[Alan]

Hi Millie,

In view of the change, I would say 'rated' is the verb or indeed 'regarded/considered'.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms