In this English vocabulary and collocation question, choose the most appropriate noun to complete the sentence: "Her parents will never give their _____ to such an unsuitable match." Select the option that best matches the standard expression for giving formal permission.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of common collocations and near synonyms in the context of granting or withholding permission. The sentence refers to parents refusing to approve a marriage that they consider unsuitable. You must choose the noun that typically follows the phrase "give their" in formal English when we speak of permission or formal approval.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "Her parents will never give their _____ to such an unsuitable match."
• Options:
  • acquiescence
  • consent
  • agreement
  • willingness
  • approval
• The context is traditional marriage approval by parents.
• We are looking for a strong, formal word for permission.

Concept / Approach:
In English, the set phrase "give one's consent" is a common, formal way to express granting permission or approval, particularly in legal, medical, or marital contexts ("parental consent", "written consent", "give consent to the operation"). While "agreement" and "approval" also relate to accepting something, they do not pair as strongly with the verb "give" in this specific pattern. "Acquiescence" implies reluctant acceptance, and "willingness" is more about personal readiness than formal permission. Therefore, "consent" is the most precise and idiomatic choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the verb phrase "give their". Ask what noun commonly follows this verb to mean "grant permission". Step 2: Recall the standard collocation "give their consent", which directly means "formally approve" or "allow". Step 3: Test "give their consent to such an unsuitable match". This is natural and exactly expresses that the parents will not approve the marriage. Step 4: Test "give their acquiescence". While this is grammatically possible, "acquiescence" usually means reluctant passive acceptance, and the phrase is rare in everyday or exam English. Step 5: Test "give their agreement". More common is "reach an agreement" or "be in agreement", not "give their agreement to a match". Step 6: Test "give their willingness". This is unnatural; we usually say "show willingness" or "express willingness". Step 7: Test "give their approval". This is possible, but the stronger, exam preferred collocation in this sentence is "give their consent", especially with a marriage context.

Verification / Alternative check:
Look at similar phrases: "Her parents refused to give their consent to the marriage" and "The doctor required written consent". Both follow the exact pattern "give their consent to". In contrast, "give their agreement to the match" is less idiomatic. In many exam answer keys, "consent" is the expected choice whenever the pattern "give their _____" appears in a permission context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• acquiescence: Too rare and suggests reluctant acceptance, not explicit formal permission in typical marriage contexts.
• agreement: More often used in expressions like "reach an agreement"; does not fit as neatly with "give their" in this sentence.
• willingness: Describes a mental state, not a formal act of allowing or approving.
• approval: While one can "give their approval", exam practice strongly associates "give their consent" with parental permission for marriage. "Consent" is more precise and formal.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes ignore collocation strength and choose any word that is roughly synonymous with "agreement". However, natural English depends heavily on which words commonly go together. Learning fixed phrases like "give consent", "seek approval", "reach agreement", and "show willingness" helps you choose the most idiomatic answer and avoid subtle errors in vocabulary questions.

Final Answer:
The best completion is "consent", giving the sentence: "Her parents will never give their consent to such an unsuitable match.".