John had to pay a ______ for his ticket.

• A. Fine
• B. Surcharge
• C. Fee
• D. Penalty

Answer: (A)

This question hinges on which word best describes money owed as a punishment for violating a rule, like a traffic ticket. A fine is the standard term for the monetary penalty imposed by authorities for such violations, so saying someone "had to pay a fine for his ticket" sounds natural and correct. A surcharge is an extra charge added on top, not the main penalty; a fee is a general charge for a service or product, not specifically a punishment for breaking a rule; and while penalty can mean a punishment, the common everyday way to refer to this situation is paying a fine.