in spite of vs. instead of

[Davide2]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #40 "The News", question 8

This was of course very embarrassing for the P.M. and ......... of the speech he told funny stories.

(a) in spite
(b) in case
(c) instead
(d) intend

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #40 "The News", answer 8

This was of course very embarrassing for the P.M. and instead of the speech he told funny stories.

Correct answer: (c) instead

Your answer was: incorrect
This was of course very embarrassing for the P.M. and in spite of the speech he told funny stories.
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In this case the correct answer is instead because it means in alternative of, in place of?
If so, when it's better to use in spite of or despite??

Thanks

[Our Tort System]

No, "in spite of " or "despite" do not mean "in place of". They mean "notwithstanding"/"without regard to".
For example, in spite of the embarrasement he gave the speech.

Also look here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/In+spite+of
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"He who tries to establish his point by much yelling shows that his reasoning is weak"
-Jodi Ann Arias

[Davide2]

Hello.

Sorry but I think there must have been a misunderstanding.

I did not mean that "in spite of" or "despite" means "in place of".
I've just asked which is the difference between "instead" and "in spite of", and when to use them.

Thanks

[Beeesneees]

Tort gave you the answer in a way...
'in spite of' means 'notwithstanding'/'without regard to'.
It does not mean 'in alternative to'/'in place of', so you cannot use it where you mean 'in place of'.

He then provided an example of where you can use 'in spite of'.
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Our Tort System]