In the passage about an ideal policeman and “good policing”, choose the correct verb to complete the expression: “we have to reluctantly _________ for an imperfect policeman”. Select the option that gives a natural and idiomatic phrasal verb in this context.

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from a cloze passage that discusses the idea that “good policing” and an ideal policeman are difficult to find in the real world. The sentence says that in a chaotic world we have to reluctantly accept something less than ideal. The blank tests your understanding of phrasal verbs and natural English collocations, especially the common phrase “settle for” when we unwillingly accept something that is not perfect.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The key part of the sentence is “we have to reluctantly _________ for an imperfect policeman”.
• The options are “decide”, “pay”, “adjust”, and “settle”.
• The adverb “reluctantly” indicates that we accept something with hesitation, not gladly.
• The context suggests accepting something less than ideal or second best.

Concept / Approach:
In English, the phrasal verb “settle for” is used when a person chooses or accepts something that is not their first choice because a better option is not available. It naturally follows an object that is less than ideal. Other verbs like “decide”, “pay”, or “adjust” need different prepositions or structures to be correct and do not match the fixed phrase “settle for”. Therefore, recognising this collocation is the key to solving the problem correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the whole phrase with each option and pay attention to whether a standard English expression is formed. Step 2: “Reluctantly decide for an imperfect policeman” is not idiomatic; one usually decides “on something” or “to do something”, not “decide for” in this sense. Step 3: “Reluctantly pay for an imperfect policeman” changes the meaning to a financial one, which does not match the conceptual discussion in the passage. Step 4: “Reluctantly adjust for an imperfect policeman” is ungrammatical in this usage; “adjust” is usually followed by “to” or “with” rather than “for” when referring to people or conditions. Step 5: “Reluctantly settle for an imperfect policeman” is a very common and natural phrase that means to accept an imperfect policeman since the ideal does not exist. Step 6: Conclude that “settle” is the only verb that combines correctly with “for” to express reluctant acceptance.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we rewrite the sentence plainly, we get: “This is why, in a chaotic world, we have to reluctantly settle for an imperfect policeman and an inadequate system.” This matches everyday English in news articles, opinion pieces, and general writing. You can also check in dictionaries where “settle for” is defined as “to accept or agree to something that is not exactly what you want”.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• decide: Normally used as “decide on something” or “decide to do something”. “Decide for an imperfect policeman” is not correct and does not capture the idea of reluctant acceptance.
• pay: This introduces an idea of payment or cost and is not used to indicate accepting a lesser quality person or system.
• adjust: Commonly used as “adjust to conditions” or “adjust with people”. It does not create the fixed expression needed here.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students focus only on the individual verb and ignore the preposition that follows, leading them to choose a verb that seems vaguely connected to compromise or change. However, competitive exams often test fixed phrasal verbs and collocations. To avoid mistakes, always read the verb together with its preposition and ask whether it forms a recognised expression in English, such as “settle for”.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is settle, giving the idiomatic expression “reluctantly settle for an imperfect policeman”.