Based on the facts before me, I have no alternative … to hold you responsible?

Analyze the question: The sentence is "I have no alternative ____ to hold you responsible." We need the word that correctly completes the idiom.

Explain the concept: In English, the expression "have no alternative but to + verb" is a fixed idiom meaning "have no other choice except to do something." Here, "but" works as a preposition meaning "except."

Similar structures:

• She had no choice but to leave.
• We had no option but to wait.

Solution (testing each option):

• A. "no alternative only to hold you responsible": this is wrong and not idiomatic.
• B. "no alternative as to hold you responsible": "as" does not express exception here.
• C. "no alternative than to hold you responsible": "than" is used in comparisons (more than, rather than), not after "no alternative."
• D. "no alternative but to hold you responsible": this is correct, and means "no choice except to hold you responsible."

Answer: The correct option is D (but).

Tip: Remember the pattern "no choice / no option / no alternative + BUT + to + verb." Whenever you see "no alternative ___ to...", think "but" (meaning "except"). Note also that "than" is a common distractor, so remember it is for comparisons only.

Note: the sentence ends with a question mark in your copy, but it is a statement, so it should end with a full stop. That does not affect the answer.