Complete the sentence by choosing the most appropriate word: "Please do not __________ an offer made by the Chairman."

Introduction / Context:
This sentence completion question checks your knowledge of collocations and the precise meanings of similar looking verbs. The sentence "Please do not __________ an offer made by the Chairman" describes the act of not accepting an offer. In English, we use the verb "refuse" for turning down an offer, invitation, or request. Understanding how common verbs pair with nouns like "offer" is essential for sounding natural and correct in English.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Sentence: "Please do not __________ an offer made by the Chairman." • Options: deny, refuse, refrain, refuge. • The context involves an offer made by an authority figure, the Chairman. • The intended meaning is "do not turn down" or "do not reject".

Concept / Approach:
The key concept here is collocation: certain verbs are regularly used with certain nouns. In standard English, we say "refuse an offer", "accept an offer", or "turn down an offer". The verb "deny" is used for refusing a claim, statement, or permission, not for offers. "Refrain" is intransitive and means to stop oneself from doing something, not to reject something. "Refuge" is a noun meaning shelter, not a verb. Therefore, "refuse" is the only verb that correctly collocates with "offer" in this sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Restate the meaning: the sentence is advising someone not to turn down an offer from the Chairman. 2. Recall common collocations: we usually say "refuse an offer" or "accept an offer". 3. Match this to option B, "refuse". 4. Examine option A, "deny", which is used in phrases like "deny an allegation" or "deny a request", not usually "deny an offer". 5. Examine option C, "refrain", which is used with a preposition, as in "refrain from smoking" and does not take an object like "an offer". 6. Examine option D, "refuge", which is a noun, as in "seek refuge", and cannot fill a verb position here.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert each option into the sentence and check which one sounds correct: "Please do not deny an offer made by the Chairman" sounds odd and is not standard usage. "Please do not refrain an offer" is clearly wrong because "refrain" does not take a direct object. "Please do not refuge an offer" is ungrammatical since "refuge" is not a verb. "Please do not refuse an offer made by the Chairman" sounds natural and matches everyday English usage, confirming that "refuse" is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, deny, usually takes abstract nouns like allegation, charge, or request and often appears with that clauses. It does not combine smoothly with "offer". Option C, refrain, requires the preposition "from" plus a gerund and does not take a noun object like "offer". Option D, refuge, is a noun meaning shelter or protection, so it cannot grammatically complete the sentence where a verb is required. Thus these options fail either in meaning, grammar, or both.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse "deny" and "refuse" because both can involve saying no, but their typical objects differ. Another mistake is to choose a word that looks similar to the right answer, such as "refuge", without checking its part of speech. To avoid these errors, pay attention to common patterns like "refuse an offer", "deny the allegation", and "refrain from doing something". Learning collocations in groups strengthens both vocabulary and grammar at the same time.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is "Please do not refuse an offer made by the Chairman."