Pat placed a () on the race and won fifty dollars.

• A. Bet
• B. Wager
• C. Stake
• D. Gamble

Answer: (A)

When talking about the money you put on an event, the natural word is a bet. Pat placed a bet on the race, and winning fifty dollars fits the idea of putting money on an outcome and receiving a payoff. Wager is a close synonym but sounds a bit more formal for everyday language, and stake points to the money put up rather than the action of placing it. Gamble is more about the act of risking itself, and isn’t used as a direct object in the phrase “placed a … on the race.” So bet is the clearest, most natural fit.