Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E My friend was lucky to secure the first appointment he ............... for.

Analyze the question The sentence is: "My friend was lucky to secure the first appointment he ............... for." The blank is followed by the preposition for, so we need a verb that naturally takes "for" in this structure, and the noun "appointment" (meaning a job or position) must make sense with it.

Explain the concept This is a question on verb-preposition collocation. Some verbs go with particular prepositions:

• apply for a job/appointment/admission
• ask for something (a general request)
• demand for is not used here (we "demand" something directly, without "for", e.g. "demand a refund")
• register for a course/exam (not a job)
• request for is usually "request something" (without "for" in standard usage)

Step-by-step solution

1. The sentence is about getting a job ("appointment" = employment/position).
2. The standard phrase for seeking a job is "apply for".
3. Check each option: • A. applied for: correct. "The first appointment he applied for." • B. asked for: grammatically possible, but it does not fit the formal process of seeking a job. It suggests simply requesting something. • C. demanded for: incorrect collocation. • D. registered for: used for courses, exams, events, not appointments. • E. requested for: nonstandard in formal English.

So the sentence reads: My friend was lucky to secure the first appointment he applied for.

Answer: A (applied)

Exam tip When you see the word appointment, job, post, admission, or scholarship, think "apply for." Memorize the common collocations such as apply for, register for, ask for, and wait for, because the preposition after the blank is often your biggest clue.