Ted, will you _____ me 50 cents? I want to buy a soda.

• A. Lend
• B. Borrow
• C. Give
• D. Take

Answer: (A)

Lending is the idea being tested: you’re asking someone to provide money for temporary use with the expectation that it will be returned. “Lend” fits perfectly because you want Ted to give you 50 cents now and you’ll pay it back later. In this role, Ted is the lender and you are the borrower.

Using “borrow” would flip the action—you’d be asking Ted to borrow from someone else, which doesn’t fit the sentence. “Give” implies a gift with no expectation of repayment, which changes the meaning. “Take” isn’t correct here either, since you’re not asking Ted to take money from you, but for him to supply it to you.