Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word from the given options:
The word which fills in the blank is an adjective as it describes the subject, "I". The clue lies in the words, "I don't expect him to change his mind". This tells us that the word which fills the blank should describe such a person who does not change his mind. Let us look at the meaning of each word in the given options.
The word, "obstinate" is an adjective which means "stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or thoughts or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so". It is the most appropriate option as it exactly describes a person who doesn't change his mind. Hence, option D is correct.
Option A: The word, "patient" is an adjective which means "able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious".
Option B: The word "hardworking" is an adjective which means "diligent". It refers to the quality of working with energy and commitment.
The words, "patient" and "harworking" are quite different in meaning and cannot describe a person who does not change his mind. Hence, options A and B are incorrect.
Option C is incorrect as the word "abstinate" doesn’t exist in the English language. It carries no meaning.