Fill in the blanks with the suitable pair of words given in the options.
The principal will not ______ any explanation offered by the faculty_____ that given by the sports department.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → accept, except
- Accept (verb) means to receive or agree to something that is offered. After "will not" the first blank needs a verb: the principal "will not accept any explanation".
Example: Please accept my apology for the delay. - Except (preposition) means apart from, not including. The second blank leaves one explanation out: any explanation "except that given by the sports department".
Example: Everyone came to the party except Ravi. - Expect (verb) means to think that something will happen; the principal is not predicting anything, so it fits neither blank. (Accept and except sound alike: accept is a verb, "to take"; except is a preposition, "leaving out". Expect only looks like them: it means "to look forward to".)
Example: We expect the results to be declared next week.