He bought a __ car from a local lot.

• A. used
• B. new
• C. pre-owned
• D. secondhand

Answer: (A)

Describing ownership status and natural word choice are being tested here. The most natural way to fill in the blank is used because it clearly signals a vehicle that has had prior owners, which fits the everyday way people talk about buying cars from a lot that sells preowned vehicles. It’s the plain, neutral option that listeners immediately understand as not brand-new.

New would imply the car hasn’t been owned before, which conflicts with the common scenario implied by buying from a local lot that often sells used cars. Pre-owned is correct in meaning, but it’s more formal and shop-talky than used in everyday speech. Secondhand is understandable but sounds less natural in American English for this context.