**Rule:** The Present Continuous ('is/are' + verb-ing) is very commonly used for fixed events in the near future, especially in informal contexts like this. 'is starting' emphasizes the immediacy of the scheduled event. Option (a) 'starts' is also correct for schedules. Option (d) is also possible to show a prediction based on the current time.

**Rule:** The future passive with 'be going to' ('is going to be' + past participle) is used to talk about planned future actions where the subject is the receiver of the action. 'The local council has plans' confirms this is a pre-decided action. Option (a) is also passive but 'going to' is strongly linked to existing plans.

**Rule:** The Future Perfect Continuous Tense (will have been + verb-ing) is used to express the duration of an action up to a certain point in the future. The duration is 'for twenty years' and the future point is 'by the time he retires'. Option (c) doesn't emphasize the duration. Options (b) and (d) are incorrect.

**Rule:** The Future Perfect Continuous Tense (will have been + verb-ing) is used to emphasize the duration ('for six months') of an action up to a point of completion in the future ('by the time it is finished'). It connects the duration of the work to its end point. Option (d) does not carry the same emphasis on the completed duration.

**Rule:** The Future Perfect Tense (will have + past participle) is used for an action that will be completed before another future action. 'Before you come home' is the second future action, setting the deadline for the completion of the painting. Option (d) 'will be painting' means the painting will be in progress when you come home. Options (a) and (c) are incorrect tenses.

**Rule:** Verbs expressing hopes, expectations, and beliefs are often followed by the Simple Future Tense ('will' + base verb) to talk about predictions. The verb 'hopes' indicates a prediction about the future. Option (d) 'is going to have' is also possible for predictions but 'will' is very common after verbs like 'hope', 'think', 'believe'. Option (a) 'is having' is present continuous. Option (c) 'has' is simple present.

**Rule:** This sentence describes a sequence of future actions. The Simple Future ('will prepare') is appropriate for the main action. The time clause ('before he starts cooking') correctly uses the simple present. Option (a) 'will have prepared' would imply that the preparation is finished long before, which is not necessarily the case.

**Rule:** 'Will' is used to express a strong belief or prediction about the future, often based on opinion. The phrase 'I am confident' indicates such a belief. While 'is going to win' (option c) is also possible if there's evidence, 'will' is the classic choice for expressing personal confidence. Options (a) and (b) are incorrect.

**Rule:** The Future Perfect Tense (will have + past participle) is used to mark the completion of a duration ('for 20 years') by a specific future point ('This time next week'). It focuses on the milestone of the 20-year duration being completed. Option (a) simply states their marital status at that future time.

**Rule:** The Future Perfect Continuous Tense (will have been + verb-ing) is used to emphasize the duration ('for a decade') of an action up to a specific point in the future ('by the time he leaves next year'). This tense perfectly captures the length of his employment up to his departure.