Final answer:
The local newspaper office was in a 'frenzy' of last-minute activity and preparation as the deadline approached, which best describes the hectic atmosphere similar to the chaotic schoolroom scenario provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence should be completed with the word 'frenzy' to express the hectic and disordered atmosphere of the newspaper office as the deadline approaches. This reflects the same sense of hurried activity and lack of order described in the provided reference scenario where a schoolroom becomes chaotic. Therefore, the complete sentence is: With the deadline fast approaching, the local newspaper office was in a frenzy of last-minute activity and preparation. The other options (chaos, whirlwind, tumult) could work to some extent but 'frenzy' specifically conveys an intense and disorderly effort to achieve something quickly, which best fits the context of the sentence.