Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
The university students, fed up with the long list of approvals they must secure before organising an event, said to the principal, "Madam, these long processes are nothing else ____ red-tapism, which hinder our ability to respond to the needs of the student community."
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → but
"Nothing but" / "nothing else but":
- Here but works as a preposition meaning except or other than.
- "Nothing (else) but X" means "only X".
- This sentence: the students say that the long processes are only red-tapism, so they are "nothing else but red-tapism".
- Complete sentence: The university students, fed up with the long list of approvals they must secure before organising an event, said to the principal, "Madam, these long processes are nothing else but red-tapism, which hinder our ability to respond to the needs of the student community."
Example: The rumour turned out to be nothing but a lie.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: beside — Incorrect. Beside means next to or at the side of. It shows position, so "nothing else beside red-tapism" makes no sense.
Example: She sat beside her mother.
Option 2: as — Incorrect. As shows a role or a comparison of equality. "Nothing else as red-tapism" is not an English pattern; the phrase needs "but".
Example: He works as a clerk in the bank.
Option 3: like — Incorrect. Like means similar to. "Nothing else like red-tapism" would mean that nothing resembles red-tapism, not that the processes are only red-tapism.
Example: She sings like a nightingale.
Contrast: "nothing but X" means only X; "nothing like X" means that nothing resembles X.