Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

She frankly confessed that she couldn't ______ to purchase a car then.

afford

The most appropriate option to fill in the blank is afford.

The sentence is about someone who is not financially able to purchase a car. The word "afford" means to have enough money to pay for something. This is the most appropriate option because it conveys the idea that the person does not have enough money to buy a car.

The other options are incorrect.

• Spend means to use money to buy something. It does not make sense to say that the person could not spend to purchase a car because they did not have enough money.
• Stand means to be able to tolerate something. It does not make sense to say that the person could not stand to purchase a car because they wanted to buy one.
• Tolerate means to be able to endure something unpleasant. It does not make sense to say that the person could not tolerate to purchase a car because they wanted to buy one.