Complete the sentence by choosing the most appropriate word: "The clerk asked for my __________."

Introduction / Context:
This sentence completion question tests your understanding of the meanings of several similar looking words derived from the root "dest". The sentence "The clerk asked for my __________" most likely refers to a common situation such as purchasing a ticket or booking travel, where a clerk needs to know where you are going. Therefore, the noun "destination" fits naturally, while the other words change the meaning completely.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Sentence: "The clerk asked for my __________." • Options: determination, destiny, destination, designation. • Context: a clerk asking for some information from you, possibly in a travel or official setting. • The missing word should fit everyday usage with clerks and forms.

Concept / Approach:
The concept here is choosing the word that collocates naturally with "clerk asked for my". "Destination" means the place where someone is going. "Destiny" means fate or the course of events in a person's life. "Determination" refers to firmness of purpose, and "designation" means a title, name, or identification. In ticket counters or travel offices, clerks frequently ask for your destination, so that is the only word that fits both the sense and context of the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Picture a common scenario: you are at a railway ticket counter or bus station and the clerk asks for information. 2. In such situations, the most usual question is "What is your destination." 3. Relate this to the sentence "The clerk asked for my __________." 4. Match this with option C, "destination", which means the place you intend to go. 5. Check option A, "determination", which refers to willpower and does not fit the context of a clerk asking for information. 6. Check option B, "destiny", meaning fate, which is not something a clerk would practically ask you to provide. 7. Check option D, "designation", which is usually used for job titles or labels, not for travel information.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert each option into the sentence and see which one sounds natural. "The clerk asked for my determination" sounds odd and does not fit any real life interaction. "The clerk asked for my destiny" is almost humorous and clearly wrong. "The clerk asked for my designation" could occur in some job or form filling contexts but is not as universal and typical as asking for destination, especially in exam patterns. "The clerk asked for my destination" sounds normal and matches everyday usage, confirming that destination is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, determination, refers to determination of character and has no direct link to the work of a clerk in travel or service situations. Option B, destiny, is about fate and life events and would not be requested as information on a form. Option D, designation, can be asked by an official if they need your job title, but the more standard examination context is travel or booking, where destination is the expected word. As a result, these alternatives either distort the meaning or lead to an unnatural sentence in normal usage.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes rely on superficial similarity of words and choose destiny or designation just because they share the same root. Others do not visualise the real life scene and miss clear clues from context. To avoid such errors, always imagine where the situation is taking place and what information would actually be requested. Building this habit will help you interpret many sentence completion questions more accurately.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is "The clerk asked for my destination."