Question

Choose the correct option to fill the blank:

You cannot cast your vote _______ you show your voting card. [Intermediate]

• A. unless
• B. although
• C. as if
• D. or

Answer 1

The correct option is A unless

Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together. Subordinating conjunctions join independent and dependent clauses. A subordinating conjunction can signal a cause-and-effect relationship, a contrast, or some other kind of relationship between the clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions are because, since, as, although, though, while, and whereas. Sometimes an adverb, such as until, after, or before can function as a conjunction. Unless is a subordinating conjunction.Unless means 'except if'.We use unless to say that there may be an exception and that this exception will change the situation. In the given sentence it is inferred that you can only cast your vote in a particular situation which is if you show your voting card. Thus Option A is correct. 'Although means "in spite of the fact that...". Thus option B can be ruled out. 'As if' as a conjunction is used to say how something seems from the information known. It is a more formal way of saying like, and is used in the same way as 'as though'.Thus Option C is incorrect. Option D can be ruled out as 'or' indicates that there is a choice and only one can be selected while in the sentence it is clearly portrayed that you can only cast your vote in a particular situation which is if you show your voting card i.e. there are no other alternative.