Both questions are alternatives; you answer ........ one ........ the other

Analyze the question: The sentence has two blanks. It says the two questions are alternatives, meaning you choose one or the other. You need a correlative conjunction pair that expresses a choice.

Explain the concept: English has fixed correlative pairs:

• either ... or gives a choice between two options.
• neither ... nor means not one and not the other (negative).

You can't mix the pairs. "Either ... nor" and "neither ... or" are both wrong.

Solution:

1. "Alternatives" means you pick one of the two. That is a choice, so it is positive, not negative.
2. Positive choice means either ... or.
3. Check the sentence: "Both questions are alternatives; you answer either one or the other." This is grammatical and makes sense.

Check the other options:

• B. "neither one nor the other" means you answer none, which contradicts the idea of alternatives.
• C. "either ... nor" mixes the pairs, so it is incorrect.
• D. "neither ... or" also mixes the pairs, so it is incorrect.

Answer: A. either/or.

Tip: Keep the pairs matched: either goes with or, and neither goes with nor. If the sentence is about choosing, use either/or. If it is about rejecting both, use neither/nor.